Susan Haejin Lee
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Un-commissioned | New Talent

Why did you make this work:
Ever since my first trip to Korea in 1998, I have been fascinated with airports. Growing up as a child of Korean immigrants in Atlanta, Georgia, I struggled to find a sense of belonging. The airport was the one place that encapsulated both my Korean and American identities – it’s a diverse place where people understand and accept that you are culturally from somewhere else.. a place of transition.

How was the illustration used:
Book Illustrations

How did you make this work:
I wanted to accurately capture the feeling of internationalism in my illustrations, in hopes that other first-generation children might read my book and find peace. I drew at the airport multiple times a week for months, and my final images were inspired by these on-site sketches. Then I digitally emulated the printmaking process by creating two color plates and planning where they overlapped.


Social Media:
twitter.com/susan_haejin
instagram.com/susanhaejinlee

Personal Website:
susanhaejinlee.com

College:
Washington University in St. Louis
Year of Graduation:
2017


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