A Few Good Pens - IL LEE
September 01, 2007 ARTnews
Excerpt––
The only time Il Lee uses a pencil is for his signature. For a quarter century, the South Korean-born artist has been coaxing massive webs of line from disposable ballpoint pens. In an aggressive twist on the more reserved ink traditions of his heritage, Lee builds up his "paint" so thickly that the paper warps. He smooths it by spraying the back with water and taping it facedown, a technique he borrowed from printmaking. When the tape peels up, Lee smacks it into place. " I am always holding the spoon," he says, naming his weapon of choice.
