Have you ever heard the word ‘Miniature’? This word means very small detailed painting. One of the Chung-Ang University alumnai changes his job from director of Commercial Film (CF) to Miniaturist. Rightly says, he is Lee Jei-ho (80, Western Painting). In addition, one of the books that are painted by him was adopted as a Korean textbook in Japan. Nobody knows he is our alumnus and such people exist. Therefore, The Chung-Ang Herald (CAH) met him in order let everybody knows who is he.
CAH: In spite of graduating ‘Western Painting,’ why did you become director of CF? In addition, what is most impresive about CF?
Lee: When I married, I was 28 years old. In fact, that age is very early to man. Actually, after I married, realized I am patriarch. Patriarch’s duty is holding responsible of my family’s and managing a household. Therefore, I needed money. Finally, I was employed in the ‘Cheil Production.’ at that time, I did not think of my major only thought about my family. As a result, I started working. There is no reason exactly, only that I wanted to earn money.
My impressed CF is ‘A Series on Environment Campaign.’ It took one year to make the series. I went all over the country with my camera operator. As making a round of Korea, we took pictures of areas that are contaminated. Going all over the country is very interesting. If I havea chance like that again, I will catch that and do that very hard.
CAH: why did you leave the ‘Cheil Production’? Why did you serve as a monument to publishing books?
Lee: I did not quit my job all of sudden. During 8 years, I worked as a director here and there. In addition, I thought ‘I'll certainly paint again’ in two years. Each two years I went, and told my wife, “I want to paint again.” Finally, after four years, I quitted my job and painted at my friend’s painting room.
However, as knows the case with painters, I also could not make money in comparison with before. Therefore, I got a job another CF company.
I spend my time like this during eight years. When I decided only to paint, and I was worried about the money, itdrove me to publish and finally decided to be writer of picture books.
During two months, I wrote book’s manuscript and painted painting. When I visited many publishing company, they said my picture were very good. However, no company published my manuscript. That manuscript is ‘Hansol’s Space Trip,’ Hansol is my son. At that time, he was seven years old, so I fixed my view to him. Because it did not publish, it remains manuscript at my house. That is my beginning work.
CAH: ‘HAL-MEO-NEY NONG-SA-IL-GI (grandmother’s agriculture diary)’ shows one year to the subdivisions of the seasons. Did you have any problems?
Lee: When I lived in abolition of a school in Chung-Ju, one village that has only two houses. Grandmother (HAL-MEO-NEY) lived one of the houses. I collected data for one year while writing a book. In addition, I painted her features. In other words, the book took me two years.
It choose Korean textbook in Japan. Japanese think when one people have intermediate grades Korean, they can read it. I think the reason why they choose my book is it can also learn Korea’s culture. Certainly, they are fond of Korea’s culture, so want to learn Korean. In my book’s writing the reader can feel Korean’s own feeling native to Korea and including Korean culture. One thing harmonizes with another thing appropriately. Because Japan is also farming country, if they read my book they think in their parents, easily convey its own emotion. Therefore, they chose my book. I am very happy to notify our emotion of farming culture. In addition, I think my book can develop diplomatic relations between Korea and Japan.
Lee: I have one special experience. One day, the cow’s reins unfasten, and the cow was run here and there. Cow was big size and ran all of grounds, whether rice field or not. From far away, I saw grandmother run after cow to catch it. By the way, the cow ran facing at me. I thought the cow was a very slow animal. However, my thinking was wrong. In a flash, the cow ran to me. itran very close next to me. I was very scared. Although, grandmother raise it for a long time, to me, very surprised.
In addition, HAL-MEO-NEY (grandmother) is sensible people. Therefore, when I took a picture, she posed to me and advised many things. I think that time was pleasant and precious time.
CAH: When you are drawing ‘Miniature,’ which is more important, large scale or small scale?
Lee: ‘Miniature’ require a remarkably concentration, endurance, and being sluggish very much.
When I draw a tree, I draw the whole tree’s feature first. Next, I break off a branch of a tree and show the feel of material etc. if branch of a tree cannot be seen easily, I use magnifying glass. Like this, narrow the gap between large scale and small scale. Case of ‘HAL-MEO-NEY NONG-SA-IL-GI (grandmother’s agriculture diary),’ I took many pictures when grandmother was working.
CAH: Do you have any plan?
Lee: I want to draw an illustrated wild vegetables book and ‘Story of HAL-MEO-NEY’S Collection of wild vegetables (story of grandmother’s collection of wild vegetables). As a result, I have plan a series of Nature like a form of documentary. I want to show the a differences.
In addition, I am thinking of drawing a diary o children who live in rural areas. It is not correct whether publish or not. Children who live in rural areas will bring me many sources to draw. Therefore, maybe when I will draw it and publish, it could be a very good source to the children of today.
CAH: You have big interest at Environment. Why do you have it?
Lee: I think its own have big meaning. In addition, I want to you let the people know that if th environment go bad, it falls on our life threateningly. Therefore, I expect my book to affect many readers. In addition, I will draw books about environment.
He seemed to be very happy and stable now. His impressions are very soft like neighborhood. At first, we thought he was a very rigid person because he was director. As a director he was very busy person when we saw hin on television. However, his feature has shown ushis original job as artist unavoidably.
He wants to drop by Chung-Ang University someday. After he graduates school, he did not visit here. Possibly, his dream is not big, but maltreatment.
By Jo Ga-yeon
News reporter