By Brooke Adams

LA Splash Magazine

LASPLASH.COM: Art & Books

http://www.lasplash.com/publish/cat_index_art_and_

books/Master_Lee_Sun-Don_Gallery_Grand_Opening_Reception_Review.php

Master Lee Sun-Don - a Taiwan-born writer, music composer, and incredibly talented painter - incorporates the teachings of Buddha into his artistry and showcased this in his most recent gallery opening, October 4, 2007.  Through a delicate balance of color, symbolism, whimsical creativity and precision, Master Lee transfers his own mental and physical energy into a sort of metaphoric storytelling.  In his paintings, Master Lee illustrates a path to enlightenment and captures the Zen of art.

李善單導師-臺灣出生的作家、音樂作曲家、和難以置信的天才畫家-將佛的教導融合到他的藝術作品裡，並且在他最近2007年十月4日的畫廊開幕式中展現這些才華。 通過顏色、象徵主義、異想天開的創造性、和精確度的精妙的平衡，李導師將他自己身心的能量轉移入一種類似隱喻的故事敘述中。 在他的繪畫裡，李導師闡釋一條通往覺悟的道路，並且擷取藝術的禪機。

The gallery’s grand opening, which was located at

畫廊的盛大開幕式在413 N. Rodeo Drive, Beverly Hills舉行，一個極美好的場面，充滿許多令人欣賞的事務。在大廳中間設置著玻璃櫃展示李導師設計的美麗的珠寶、藝品和珍貴的寶石。來自臺灣的珠寶玉石專家親切地對客人展示每件珠寶，而其他客人觀賞著廣泛，親切的畫廊。

Walking from one art work to the next, an interesting unfolding occurred.  Each painting had its own story, a unique origin and an individual journey from the artist’s mind to the canvas.  Both literally and figuratively speaking, each painting’s story was told, as a brief description beside each one detailed the artist’s thoughts or derivation of the concept behind the art.  Some donned bright bold colors, while others took a more modest approach with pastel hues.  Some seemed hopeful, while others embodied a sense of darkness.  Nonetheless, every painting had both subtle and obvious depictions.  The utilizing of pyramids, crosses, and other rigid geometric shapes added a unique sense of history and character to the feathery blends of interwoven colors.

從一幅畫到下一幅畫，是個有趣的開展。每幅畫有它自己的故事、一個獨特的起源、和藝術家從心到畫的一次自我旅程。字面上或象徵上，每張畫的故事都有解說，畫的旁邊有一個簡要說明詳述了藝術家的思想與藝術背後所衍生的概念。有些畫著上明亮大膽的顏色，有些則採用柔和的淡彩。有些畫似乎充滿希望，有些則顯現黑暗感。然而，每張畫都有微妙和明顯的描述。在輕柔的色彩的交織上運用金字塔、十字架和其他剛性幾何形狀增加了獨特的歷史感和文字符號。

Although most of Master Lee’s paintings seemed to possess a certain watercolor factor that required its viewers to long ponder its meaning, others had distinct symbols and pictures that vividly stood out and captured immediate attention and opinion.  Some of Master Lee’s work included a technique defined by the term “ totem,” which is recognized as synonymic with unity and balance of universal energies in eastern culture.  Master Lee used various arrangements of lines, colors, and other artistic factors to express cosmic energies in his work.  The first to ever incorporate such an integration of Buddhist ideologies with contemporary western art in oil painting, Master Lee has been dubbed the “ Pioneer of Totemic Energy Oil Painting.”  His approach is both innovative and thought-provoking.

雖然大多李導師的繪畫似乎擁有某種水彩要素，需要觀畫者長期思考它的意義，有些畫作則有著與眾不同的符號和圖畫，鮮活而突顯，即刻攫取到人們的注意與輿論。一些李導師的作品包括一種定義為「圖騰」的技法，在東方文化中被認同為與宇宙能量的統一平衡是同義的。李導師運用線條、顏色的各種各樣的安排，以及其他藝術性的要素，在他的作品裡表達宇宙的能量。他是史上將佛教思想體系結合在當代西方油畫藝術中的第一人，李導師已被封為圖騰能量油畫的「先驅」。他的方法是創新的和令人深思的。

The evening was full of culture and included variety from beginning to end.  A small handful of celebrities attended and pranced delicately from painting to painting.  Servers walked by presenting plates of beautifully decorated hors d’oeuvres, while a separate outdoor area housed a small bar serving fruit-infused teas and sparkling water.  At the conclusion of this event, Master Lee Sun-Don further showcased his talent in an “ Impromptu” exhibition in which he demonstrated his painting techniques in front of a live audience.  His final product was simplistic, yet beautiful.  Meeting Master Lee was an added bonus.  He signed my copy of his 2007 Autumn-Winter Exhibitions art book and spoke with me for several minutes.  I left feeling intrigued by his work and open-minded toward his unique style.

晚上自始至終充滿了文化和多樣性。 一小部份名流出席晚會並優美地在一幅幅的畫中歡愉地穿越。服務生來回走動提供裝飾美妙的小食，而在另一個分開的室外區域安置了小酒吧提供果汁茶水和蘇打水。在這個晚會結束時，李善單導師更進一步在現場觀眾前面顯示了他的天分，以一場「即興」繪畫展示他的繪畫技巧。他的最終的作品是單純的，而美麗的。會見李導師是額外的收穫。他在我那本他的2007秋冬畫冊上簽上名，並和我談了幾分鐘。回去後我的感覺是為他的作品所吸引並對他獨特的風格覺得是能夠虛心接受的。

For more information on Master Lee Sun-Don and his work visit http://arts.sundon.net

關於李善單導師和他的作品更多的信息，請參觀http://arts.sundon.net