I was very happy to pop by Art Seasons Gallery to view Justin Lee’s Solo Exhibition “Ten Years of Art and Craft”. Based on Justin’s memories of his late grandfather’s photography works, his trip to China, the city of Beijing, and his recent residency in Fukuoka-Japan, the exhibition features his most recent paintings and his performance art. For the past ten years, from paintings to sculptures, from installations to performance art, Justin’s art practise talks about his self-reflection as an artist, as well as a human being. His witty, thoughtful work blends traditional Eastern imagery and techniques with twenty-first-century consumerism and Western icons.
The feeling I get as I walked around, is this bits of playfulness and fragments of memories that remains as the world changes. Items of yesteryears, representing a younger Justin as various age & experiences.
Also there are icons. For example, a large painting of Princess Diana – for she is the de facto representation of “Princess” for Justin and many others growing up.
I asked Justin “Ten Years of Art & Craft…so is this a retrospective?”
Justin smiled & replied without pausing “NO, I don’t need or plan for a retrospective. Why look back when one should constantly move forward.”
“Most people would want to reflect on what they done.” I suggested
Justin “My focus is on creating, having to create new things. Moving on, to be better.”
“You don’t hope to define and show others about YOU? About “Justin Lee?” I try to dig deeper.
Justin replied “It’s up to others to define who or what I am about. I need not define it for them, those that are aligned with my thinking would know exactly what I wants to represent. I can’t force people to see exactly what I see. I don’t need to define myself to let other remember me by a certain image.”
This short chat with Justin, provided me a simple crystalised outlook of this showcase. Memories hold unique meaning to each individual, it’s best to let each person to define the meanings. That is what make life colourful.
Justin wishes all our readers a great year ahead~
About the Artist:
Justin Lee (b. 1963) graduated from University of Huddersfield in UK,
Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts with a B.A. degree in Fine Arts in 2006, and
College of the Arts from Lasalle-SIA with a Diploma in Fine Art in 1999. He
has held numerous exhibitions, represented Singapore at the Venice Biennale
and been commissioned by commercial clients, the Esplanade and the Singapore
Art Museum.
Exhibition Date: 29 Nov 2012 – 12 Jan 2013
Venue: Art Seasons
1 Selegie Road #02-21/24 PoMo
Singapore 188306
Tel: 6741 6366
Gallery Hours: Mondays to Saturday from 11am – 7pm
Closed on Sundays and Public Holidays
View more photos of “Ten Years of Art and Craft – Justin Lee” at our Flickr album.
