Contemporary artist Hayoon Jay Lee

Contemporary artist Hayoon Jay Lee talks about her inward journey in an interview with Anjali Singh for the Asian Curator.

Artist Interview

I call myself Rice Goddess because I feel that both rice and I are offering the same truths about life.

Contemporary artist Hayoon Jay Lee

How to become an artist

What brought you to the world of contemporary/visual art and how did you start?

I grew up in an artistically gifted family.  In particular, my older sisters possess natural creative ability, which has clearly benefitted me, although growing up, I never expected to pursue a career in art.  Still, over the years, I took some emotional comfort in making the occasional drawing or painting. My professional art journey officially began after taking my MFA from Maryland Institute College of Art in Baltimore in 2009.

At that point, I decided to move to NYC because I yearned to make art full-time, to meet dedicated artists, and to participate in various artistic communities. To fulfil some of my aspirations, I have taken part in notable artist-in-residency programs in the U.S., China, and Korea, where I have engaged with a cross-section of the contemporary art scene. I have been inspired by learning from and sharing with great artists, curators, and writers. It has been an amazing journey, and I look forward to further encounters and embrace the challenges that I know I will face.  

What would you call your style?   

I don’t have one particular style of art making.  In terms of conveying ideas, I am open to all media and to any and all approaches, including interdisciplinary, research-based, and mixed media.    

Choice of medium in art

Let’s talk about the evolution of your practice and medium of art over the years.

Something that I can never forget are the food shortages that plagued South Korea in the 1960s and 70s.  Rice, of course, was (and is) the central food source for Koreans. I was very young at that time, but I witnessed scenes of suffering, hungry people on the streets, in villages and orphanages, all of which left a permanent imprint on my mind. Our family also struggled to find enough to eat. We were a family of seven, yet, I recall, that my mother always set aside some rice for other people in need. Through my mother’s compassionate example, my siblings and I learned how to share and to appreciate the interconnectedness between individuals and the larger community.  Because of my upbringing, I am loath to waste any food.  However, I never thought I could use rice as art material.

The origin story

In 2005, after meeting with a group of artists over dinner, I unintentionally used leftover rice to make a small object and left it in my studio for several months.  One day, I saw that piece and suddenly realised the material was with me all along. Like most artists, I have explored diverse art materials to convey important ideas. But I am not bound to only one medium, approach, and concept. However, when I work with rice it gives me great pleasure and generates artistically meaningful results.  

Over the years, I have used rice to create freestanding and relief sculptures, installations, paintings, and performances. The medium is eminently variable, taking different forms, colours, and textures, whether raw or cooked. As I discovered the resilient nature and fragility of rice, I began to see it as beyond a simple staple food. It plays an essential role in life and death, in communal settings, and in reference to currency, charity, political power, and much more. 

Tell us about your commitment to your current medium in art.

I call myself Rice Goddess because I feel that both rice and I are offering the same truths about life.

The creative process: creative blocks

What does the creative process mean to you?

For me, each effort at art-making is a journey into the unknown that excites me at the same time it makes me uneasy. It pushes me to struggle and gives great satisfaction.  In the end, I am inspired again to make new work.  It’s a journey, l am on it, and it never ends.

How do you deal with the conceptual difficulty and uncertainty of creating new work?

I empty my mind to see and feel fully; eventually, a new idea begins to germinate.

How do you overcome creative blocks?

I am sure we all go through these fallow stages.  In my case, I just move ahead or pause, and then, do it again.  There is no other way for me, but to keep on making art. I don’t feel afraid of making mistakes or failing.  It’s okay. It is a part of an organic process.

The creative process: creative inspiration   

What is your source of creative inspiration?

I have many sources: life experience, specific people, nature, food, books, social issues, political issues, etc.

What are you looking for in other visual artists work? 

One of the benefits of living in NYC is the opportunity to hop on the subway to go see art.  Usually, I go to museums and galleries alone to take the time to see art and experience it at my own pace. I am inspired by the works of many well-known people as well as some accomplished artists in my immediate circle.  Observing their dedicated practice and hearing their profound thoughts help to remind me what true art-making involves.

Which shows, performances and experiences have shaped your own creative process? Who are your favorited contemporary artist maestros?

When I see extraordinary exhibitions, they stay with me for a long time. Martin Puryear’s show at MOMA (2007) still helps me to reflect upon the relationship between spaces and objects.

Agnes Martin’s retrospective exhibition at the Guggenheim (2017) taught me to cherish the ideal of simplicity.  I admire the following artists: Marina Abramovic, Joseph Beuys, Louise Bourgeois, Eva Hesse, Ann Hamilton, Anselm Kiefer, Rene Magritte, Anna Mendieta, among many others.

Mention any art books, writers or blogs of note

• The Compass of Zen by Seung Sahn
• Orientalism by Edward W. Said
• The Comfort Women by George Hicks
• Dada from National Gallery of Art, Washington
• Magritte edited by Daniel Abadie
• Jacob Lawrence from Seattle Art Museum
• Trinh T. Minh-ha’s work speaks deeply to me about understanding otherness.  Her films and writings have influenced me as a person and as an artist.   

On contemporary/visual art.

What does contemporary/visual art mean to you? What role do contemporary artists play in shaping culture and society?

I think there are no limits on 21^st Century artists, except those we set for ourselves. Artists have the freedom to share personal stories and feelings, explore current social and political issues, redefine important historical moments, and develop future realities while using media, such as painting, sculpture, installation, performance, video, and music, to name a few. Artists can bring people together to share and acknowledge what is happening in our society and culture through non-violent means.  Such art can inspire people’s thoughts and actions.  

Artist lifestyle: Art studio  

Tell us about your art studio, what kind of place is it?

I have been working in Reis Studios in Long Island City, NY for 11 years. It is a six-story building, in which artists occupy three floors and the rest by individuals involved in different professional activities.

A day in the life of a visual artist Could you describe your usual work-day?

On an average day, my studio hours are 10 am to 9 pm, including weekends. I spend most of my time in the studio, unless I am participating artist-in-residency programs or taking part in an exhibition or other art-related activities.  I love being in my studio. Now, because of the pandemic I am working remotely, that is, outside of the New York area.  I sincerely hope that there will be a vaccine soon, so that we can all feel safe to return to our pre-pandemic pursuits in the near future.

Career as an artist

Any mentor, curator or gallerist who deserves a special mention for furthering your career as an artist?

I was very fortunate to have a number of extraordinarily wise people around me throughout my life.  My mother once told me, “People who support you, or who challenge you, they are your true teachers.”  She was right.  All along, many professors and accomplished artists have encouraged me to find my own art-making path.  Those who have tested me have also given me an opportunity to develop my vision of art.      

Art marketing & building an audience     

Tell us about your first sale.

My very first art sale was a metal sculpture called Two Dancers.  In 2003, I was a student welding and grounding this metal work outside of the sculpture studio.  A sociology professor was passing by and saw my work and expressed an interest in purchasing it.  I asked him to come back to see it when it was finished, and then make a decision.  Surprisingly, he came back and bought the work.  This unexpected result encouraged me for sure.

How does your audience interact and react to the work you put out into the world?

Audiences usually participate in my projects. It could be with performances and/or questionnaires. After looking at my work, there are often queries about the history of the subject matter or the nature of the materials.  I think it’s a very important aspect of art making to foster a dialogue around an art work.

On upcoming work    

Themes you are currently working on?

During the current lockdown, I have been working on a large meditative piece. It consists of six wooden panels covered with rice in the form of adjoining abstract “topographical” motifs.

Any upcoming show or events we can look forward to (links and dates)

Because of the global pandemic, a one-person exhibition scheduled for November 2020 was postponed until fall 2021.

Artist contact information 

For enquiries contact: ricelee815 [at] gmail [dot] com

Hayoonjaylee.net

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Before you go – you might like to browse our Artist Interviews. Interviews of artists and outliers on how to be an artist. Contemporary artists on the source of their creative inspiration.