The Heart of Nature

interview
Written By Camille Gressier

with Soru Lee

Discover our enchanting interview with Soru Lee, an artist whose work beautifully intertwines the themes of nature and human emotion. In this intimate conversation, Soru shares her creative process, the profound impact of her grandmother, and the inspirations behind her stunning picture book, The Big Present. Soru’s art captures the essence of connection and healing, offering comfort during life’s challenges. Connect with her unique perspective and artistic journey! Read the full interview. 

Hello Soru, how are you? You recently collaborated with Blumenhaus on our new issue which is all about Mother Nature. We were keen to discover more about you and your creative process. Can you tell us a bit about yourself, who you are, where you're based, and what you do?
Hello Camille and Isabelle, how are you? Thank you for inviting me in your beautiful Blumenhaus magazine. I am Soru Lee and I write, draw, and make picture books, low and slow.

How nature influences your artistic process? Can you share a specific memory or encounter that has significantly impacted your work?
When my grandmother, whom I loved, passed away in the summer of 2021, I learned our lifetime is a blink of an eye of nature’s endures. She was the love of my life. By spending time with her, I deeply learned from her how to love people. Her motion of tenderness taught me how to live in a moment. While the time flowed into my river, my green fields, my little petals of plumbago, she stayed with me, daily. It’s simple. But, to me, the blessing of everything.
Toward the art, after her, as the rain slowed in the early morning, at a quite slow pace I drew and wrote little by little and put these into my picture book. I dedicated this first picture book, The Big Present, to her.
And then rain came, then morning came, then the snowfalls came.
“Looking at the houses light up under the heavenly night sky, and a snowfall began to gently envelop the houses, heals the place where the countless of snowflakes stay, like the grandmother’s reassuring tenderness.”
⏤ The Big Present
Touching our separate souls was the present of our life together.

Can you describe your typical creative process? Do you start with a specific concept, or do you allow the images to emerge organically?
As you said, the images emerge organically in my mind after exploring the questions just like the sun rising every morning and creating light in this natural world. These images are lodged safely within me. I feel blessed to have these by the people I have met, the places I have lived, the moments I have encountered, and the sounds I have heard. The image found me. I don't choose it, it comes to me and my day. It was given. When I am collaborating with others, I try to listen. I listen carefully. I listen deeply.

Your work focuses on the relationship between nature and the human psyche, right? What are some of the metaphors or symbols you often employ in your illustrations? How do these metaphors help convey deeper meanings to your audience?
The house and light. I like to draw the flow of everything that allows me to experience the passage of time. I carefully bring it onto my paintings with tender respect. I have been painting a series of pastel artwork, Mornings, on transparent paper from 2022. One of the artworks from this series is called, Mornings ⏤ Dear Clau (2022), installed at Casa Balandra in Spain, where I stayed last winter.
Casa Balandra is a house itself, where Claudia del Olmo grew up with her family and she yearly invites artists from all over the world to her place. I felt lucky enough to spend time with her during the warm winter. I found that the warm winter at Casa Balandra is safer than any other place guide us to rest each other, tenderly, and generously. Soon enough, we were the shining home itself, where our heart shells rest together, in the quiet thousand nights. I am glad to love this house we live in and learn how it feels to live.
“Home is where the heart is.”
⏤ Soru, Mornings
The house honors times of rest.

Your work is incredibly refined. Can you explain the technique behind the subtle blurs, simple shapes, and soft palette?
My friend, Nora, wrote down these words, which warmed my heart.
“Soru captures life’s essence: connection. Using gentle colors and textures, her work can give you a taste of these virtues. Soru Lee personifies gratitude and soulfulness, witnessing her work can give you a taste of these virtues. Words cannot describe how thankful I am to have met her and share my time with her.”
⏤ Nora Winderickx
The lovely days when, with Nora, we walked to the café across the verging field of flowers, had small talks into the nights, there is then a correspondence with our hearts, and had a good time.
Just like those simple days with her, one good simple line is always greater than the multiple lines. I start with the color pencil and filled the paper with the soft pastel pure powdered pigment. I smudged them to create the world of literature.

How do you hope your art can offer comfort or support to viewers, especially during difficult times? What specific emotions or messages do you aim to convey through your illustrations?
Looking back, I found redemption in the place where I got kind words. These words are lodged safely within me and it saved my life. Like the wind in motion, encounters come to me with the invitation to explore. I had the fortune to be invited. I hope my artworks visit others with the same fortune that I had.
“When I encounter a good art, I can hear that painting. They all are here to listen. When it is said with love, it heals the listener. It translates everything into love.”
⏤ Soru, House of Light

How do you see your artistic style and themes evolving in the future? Are there any new directions or areas of exploration you're interested in pursuing?
How far will one image go? What one image can do? Hopefully, the given chance to share my art, guide me to a place where I can not only give people aesthetic needs, but also humanistic needs. 
I believe one good image moving out a thousand miles of soul can do. Sometimes, also, does the river.

Where can we find your art?
My picture book, The Big Present, is currently exhibited in the beautiful little town of Sarmede, Italy. This international children’s illustrated books exhibition of Sarmede, Le Immagini della Fantasia, this year in its 42nd edition. Fortunately, this book has been translated into English and is available to meet my book at the Casa della Fantasia bookshop. Beside me, beautiful words with the guidance of Doyoon Lee, my sister, translator of my picture book. She is always there for me.
You can also meet my art at Partnership Editions in London. I am pleased to connect with people by following their thoughtful guidance. I always try to remember how lucky I am to receive warm support and be surrounded by kind people. It is because of them that I love what I do. 

Anything else you’d like to share?
I genuinely feel blessed to spend time and talk with Camille and Isabelle. I am fortunate enough to get to know you all. The summer sun fell into fall here. Hope you all have lovely fall days. Sending you warm blessings and love.

Camille Gressier
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