Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Yeongeun Lee. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Alright, Yeongeun thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. How did you learn to do what you do? Knowing what you know now, what could you have done to speed up your learning process? What skills do you think were most essential? What obstacles stood in the way of learning more?
I learned ceramics in college for the first time. On the first day of the practical class, I learned how to make small objects that looked like a ball and a box. The process was complicated and had many restrictions to avoid making cracks. I made some objects with careful touch and heart during the semester. It was really challenging for me to follow so many rules. When I saw the results after firing, I was shocked by the ugly outcomes. They had shrunk, and the colors turned dull. I thought I didn’t have talent for ceramics, but the point is that I am now working professionally with clay after going through many trials and errors.
I always face obstacles when I learn something new. Looking back, I think I could have sped up my learning if I had accepted earlier that failure and frustration are a natural part of the process, instead of doubting my talent. The gap between my expectations and my actual level often made me frustrated, but now I see it as a normal stage of learning.
Going back, when I was fifteen, my artistic journey was just beginning. I joined a private art academy with a friend in Korea, and I tried drawing for the first time. I immediately became immersed in the work and experienced time flying. After that, I decided to attend an art high school to develop my skills, but I had only a few months to prepare for the entrance test (drawing a plaster figure, Agrippa). Even though I faced hardships such as limited time and lack of knowledge, I focused on practicing and taking mock exams until I gained the critical skills for depicting plaster figures. I wasn’t afraid of making mistakes, and as a result, I entered at the top of my school.
Looking back, I believe that motivation and consistent practice are the most essential aspects for learning something seriously. If I hadn’t been happy learning art, or if I hadn’t set a clear goal and practice fully, I couldn’t have made it.
I’m still learning new materials such as glass and 3D printing to combine with my work. This is challenging because everything is new to me, from the terminology to the technical processes, and the results often come out clumsy. Still, I keep learning. I believe I will eventually achieve strong skills if I continue practicing. That’s my way of learning new things.
Yeongeun, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
Hello, my name is Yeongeun, and I would describe myself as a ceramic, glass, and visual artist. I’m currently pursuing my MFA in 3D Fine Arts in Massachusetts College of Art and Design. I began my artistic journey unexpectedly at the age of 15, when I attended a private art academy. Since then, I have been finding my artistic voice through art.
Currently, I focus on capturing the fleeting beauty of nature, driven by my longing to stay close to it and live as an eco-friendly person. I grew up on Geoje Island in Korea, surrounded by beautiful landscapes. Being close to nature inspired me and nurtured my artistic talent, but later, moving from an island to the city made me realize its irreplaceable value. Experiencing poor air quality and noise pollution firsthand made me more concerned about environmental issues and deepened my longing for the comfort and vitality that nature provides.
My main discipline is ceramics, but in recent years I have been integrating glass, ceramics, and painting into my practice. Through these materials, I create planters, vases, and sculptural pieces that explore themes of nature, transformation, and the fragile balance between beauty and imperfection. One of my recent works was a series called Endless Flowers, made with glass and a ceramic vase, as an attempt to capture the beauty of flowers while avoiding killing real flowers in my vase.
I enjoy infusing my work with a slice of joy, humanity, and solace, and I hope that these elements can be felt by others. For potential clients and followers, what I want them to know is that my work is not just about creating objects but about fostering connections between people, and between humans and nature. I hope my practice encourages others to see beauty not only in polished perfection but also in fleeting, fragile, and imperfect moments that make life meaningful.
Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?
That’s a very interesting question. The lesson I had to unlearn is that I always have to do everything well and know everything. Over time, I had unconsciously built a kind of perfectionism. When I first came to the US, I wanted to keep pursuing my artistic practice, so I went to a ceramics studio and took a class. Even there, I tried to be perfect, but I couldn’t. On the first day, I realized how limited my English listening and speaking skills were, and I went home and ended up crying.
But then, I noticed how people here ask questions whenever they don’t know something, without feeling embarrassed. At first, I worried that asking too many questions might annoy others, or that it would seem trivial, but here, people keep asking and learning step by step. Seeing their curiosity and willingness to learn made me realize that it’s okay not to know everything, and that asking questions is actually a great attitude for life and learning.
What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?
Yes, my main goal is actually quite simple and honest. I want to make a living doing what I love and enjoy. For me, creating art is not just work. It’s something that brings me joy and fulfillment. I believe that when I’m passionate about what I do, that energy naturally comes through in my work and can also resonate with others. So, my mission is to keep exploring materials and ideas that excite me, and at the same time, sharing my work in a way that lets me keep working as an artist.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @yeongeun_oo
Image Credits
Yeongeun Lee