Today we’d like to introduce you to Eusong Lee.
Every artist has a unique story. Can you briefly walk us through yours?
I was born and raised in Ulsan, South Korea – a port city with easy access to mountains and the ocean. When I was 13 years old, I moved to Toronto, Canada to study abroad. My family stayed in Korea and they still live there.
It was my brave mother’s idea – to get me out there to see the world. So, I spent my confusing teenage years under a stranger’s roof, attending a foreign school (well, as a foreigner at a Canadian school).
One thing that never changed was my habit of drawing. I always loved drawing and painting since I was little kid so that was the only thing I knew for sure – I would study something that has to do with visual arts. Then, I watched a couple of Calarts short films on Youtube, which were David Ochs’ Who’s Hungry and Dylan Forman’s Oxygen. At that point, I knew Calarts Animation program would be the right place for me, which is where I ended up!
After three years of Calarts, I won Walter and Gracie Lentz Animation Awards and Silver Student Oscar Academy award. Since then, I have been directing and art directing in various fields of the animation industry.
Please tell us about your art.
I sincerely and simply enjoy the feeling of creating something. And the joy comes from every bit of a process in animation or art-making as well. So, that’s probably why I enjoy making a contained illustration sets or directing short films and series.
Having that said, I just hope the audience takes away all that joy and emotions I wish to convey through my work! Whether there is a moral or not, I’d like to propose something that is clearly truthful in some form of entertainment.
Most of my work has strength in art direction, poetic storytelling and also charming characters. But I like to keep trying different types of films and series! I have been directing more action-oriented work at Chromosphere and also more comedy at Shadow Machine. I believe I liked to keep getting better different entertainment of animation so when I get to make my own, I have all the tools I will need!
Given everything that is going on in the world today, do you think the role of artists has changed? How do local, national or international events and issues affect your art?
Honestly speaking, I’m not the most socially active artist. But I see amazing artists who do a great job of empowering movements and expressing opinions, which educates the public (AND ME!!). What I do is to share their work on my Instagram stories and support them as much.
When it comes to my work, I simply try to be politically correct and be more diverse in the characters and culture. surely it is not the most interesting answer but it really comes down to the simple fact and respect that I want to have in my work.
How or where can people see your work? How can people support your work?
My main website is still in construction but here is the link!
www.eusong.com
please follow me on Instagram for more updates on my latest film, My Moon. There are also more updates on the professional work I do in LA.
Instagram: @eusonglee
All videos here:
https://vimeo.com/eusong
My Moon trailer:
https://vimeo.com/251825750
Contact Info:
- Website: www.eusong.com
- Instagram: eusonglee
- Other: https://vimeo.com/eusong
Image Credit:
By Eusong Lee
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