Embodying Beauty
by Hang H. Lee
Do Not Box Yourself In. Digital Painting. 2020-2022.
My art explores themes of identity, self-connection, and body image, often depicted through the lens of everyday life. My illustrations portray ordinary moments, like smelling the cherry blossoms, looking out the window on a rainy day, walking with my adorable dogs, or loving my perfectly imperfect body shape.
Haven’t Read a in Book a Year. Digital Painting. 2020-2022.
In the past few years, since Covid hit, I focused on drawing figures as I realized I was gaining "Covid Fat." I created curvy, heavy, and exaggerated forms and shapes to show how everything has shifted from not only how I looked before Covid but also what I used to believe. As I gained weight, I instantly became insecure about my body and how others perceive me. I was losing confidence and believed I was losing my identity as a woman in the sense that the world defines. However, one day, I started putting my insecurities into my drawings. I began to turn my vulnerabilities and ordinariness into something beautiful. By drawing attention to the very parts that I wanted to hide, I found that I could give them value. They became the most intriguing parts.
Summer in Me. Digital Painting. 2020-2022.
When we accept and appreciate ourselves for who we are, I believe we can find fulfillment in what true beauty is and, more importantly, maintain a healthy image both within and without.
Love One Another (Stop AAPI Hate). Digital Painting. 2020-2022.
Hang H. Lee is an award-winning art director, graphic designer, and illustrator based in South Korea and Salt Lake City, Utah. Her love for storytelling illustration, hand-drawn typography, and doodles bring unique, crisp, clean, and whimsical styles to the surface. She is currently working on illustrations for Great Wolf Lodge and recently had a group show with leading Korean artists in Seoul called Seoulflection.
