Jane Lee

Jane Lee is a distinguished artist, known for her innovative approach to redefining the very essence of paint and painting, crafting dynamic and bold artistic expressions. She critically reevaluates Western painting traditions while infusing her work with the rich tapestry of her own cultural heritage.

Biography of Jane Lee

Jane Lee was born in 1963 in Singapore. She holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree and a Diploma in Fashion from LASALLE College of the Arts in Singapore.

Jane Lee's creation "Raw Canvas" was presented at the Singapore Biennale in 2008. Her artistry also graced the "Collectors' Stage" exhibition hosted at the Singapore Art Museum in 2011, and it was featured in the "Southeast Asia Platform," a showcase of pioneering artworks from various corners of the region, presented at Art Stage Singapore in 2014.

In the subsequent year, Lee's work received the distinct honor of being chosen for inclusion in "Prudential Singapore Eye," a significant survey that stands as one of the most extensive examinations of contemporary art in Singapore to date.

Jane Lee's impressive exhibition history includes noteworthy showcases such as "Lila: Unending Play" at the Singapore Art Museum in 2023, a critically acclaimed solo exhibition titled "Red States" at the Hong Kong Arts Centre in 2018, a solo presentation titled "Meld" at Sundaram Tagore Gallery during in 2017, and "Freely, Freely" at STPI in 2016, a continuation of her artistic journey following her residency in 2015.

Jane Lee's Art Style: Notable Works

Jane Lee stands out for her unorthodox methods and innovative approach to processes, materials, and techniques. She meticulously reevaluates the dynamic between painting and contemporary art, skillfully erasing the boundaries that traditionally separate two- and three-dimensional expressions within spatial contexts. In her artistry, Lee captures the very essence of contemporary art in an era characterized by transcultural globalization, offering a profound reflection of this evolving ethos.

Jane Lee's "Raw Canvas" presents itself as an expansive fabric adorning a wall. However, this artwork defies expectations as it is meticulously crafted from a unique fusion of silicone, enamel, and acrylic paint. Each of these materials is painstakingly manipulated into threads that are then skillfully woven together by the artist.

In 2015, while on her residency at STPI in Singapore, Jane Lee embarked on a revitalizing exploration of the materiality of paint. The culmination of this artistic journey was the exhibition titled "Freely Freely" in 2016. Notable among its works were pieces from the 'Set Me Free' series (2015), where intricately cut paper birds were depicted, chained to petite cages, seemingly yearning for flight. These pieces delved into themes of confinement and liberation, artfully expressed through the medium of paper.

In her trio of artworks titled "Coming to Terms with Your Own Boundary" from 2010, Jane Lee explored several distinct techniques:

• "Coming to Terms with Your Own Boundary I" involved intricately weaving layers of paint to fashion a canvas-like structure, cleverly accentuating its material essence by creating a central void.

• In "Coming to Terms with Your Own Boundary II," Lee fashioned sculpted paint pieces that were artfully applied to the canvas, yielding multifaceted and textured surfaces.

• "Coming to Terms with Your Own Boundary III" presented a contrasting sleekness. In this piece, Lee sliced the canvas into slender strips, artfully rolling them into a large coil mounted on the wall.

In 2019, Jane Lee initiated a collaboration with YAL, embarking on a creative journey to craft wall-based sculptural pieces using modeling clay and later cement. These works effectively challenge the traditional boundaries between painting and sculpture, as they embody the physicality of sculpture while preserving the illusion of depth inherent in painted imagery.

Within her "Masters" series, Lee draws inspiration from iconic figures in Western art history, spanning from Johannes Vermeer to Piet Mondrian. These influential "masters" had a subconscious impact on her during her formative years as a painter, and she now references and reinterprets their legacies in her own unique artistic expression.