Artists
Photo Credit: NIU Chun-Chiang
LEE Szu-Hui
LEE Szu-Hui
| Location | USA / Colorado |
|---|---|
| Residency | Anderson Ranch Arts Center |
| Year of the Grant | 2008 |
| Work | Transparency．White |
Artist Statement:
I started using dolls in my work during university. Without realizing the history and origin of ready-made dolls, I was amused by the imagination of the object’s numerous replicas. The distortion and reformation of the dolls was in some way an experiential and emotional outlet for myself. In graduate school, I produced one hybrid pattern that was combined with text from a Western mythological story and a flattened image of dolls. With the mixture of images, I developed a series of patterns to perceive my personal identity.
At the same time, I was also interested in traditional patterns found in Asian countries. During my previous residencies in Japan and Korea, I was more involved in an old pattern ‘tomoe,’ which is a common design in Japanese family emblems. The form of tomoe is very similar to Taiji, a symbolic image in China, Taiwan, and Korea. In addition to cultural aspects of pattern itself, I explored different kinds of media and paints, paying attention to color hue, value, chrome, texture, and transparency. During my residency in Colorado, I focused on white. The opportunity to observe and experience snow gave me completely different feelings about white. Depicting different layers and tones of white is a way to express the spirit of purity, peace, and nature.
Anderson Ranch Arts Center is located in a beautiful natural environment. The space features a variety of state-of-the-art equipment. The established arts center frequently hosts diverse arts activities including exhibitions, lectures, art auctions, and symposiums. Teaching assistants are also available as resources if one runs into any technical problems during his or her residency. I experienced my very first art auction at Anderson Ranch Arts Center. The profits from the auction were donated to the running of the center. Opportunities for conversation with other artists were also very refreshing and an interesting experience.