Abby Lee: Sequences

EVENT DESCRIPTION

a|n Gallery is proud to present “Sequences”, a solo show by HK artist Abby Lee, who is the gold award winner of 2021 Art Next Expo.

“Sequences” depicts Lee’s observations of the city’s sequential features from a transverse linear direction. She focusses on the sense of orderliness found amongst a variety of objects in communal spaces. Her works are a visual record of the organic connection between different points in our spatial environments and the harmonious nature of structural beauty. The rows of trees standing silently along the highway, the lines of cars quietly waiting near the tunnel entrance, the sequence of shadows dancing under the light…To Lee, such inconspicuous details bear an indestructible pattern which help to safeguard the order of the universe.

Featuring 14 acrylic paintings on wood panels and a short film stop-motion animation, “Sequences” deliberately adopts a painting style which hovers between Figurism and Surrealism. Lee uses low-saturation colours, coupled with a mixture of solid and broken lines to evoke a parallel universe that can be found in a science fiction. In these communal spaces tinged with mystic undertones, things are in absolute order – the railings are perfectly straight and tidy, and even the pedestrians on the bridge are walking in order, as if they are in a marching practice. The morphological sequences found in various visual motifs are a reflection of the repetitive daily life patterns of office workers.

For Lee, humans are merely a part of the bigger scene. She insists on leaving the human facial features blank, and focusses instead on body gestures and movements with solid white silhouettes. She cleverly makes use of the transparent properties of acrylic paint to create shaded layers in order to create a clear distinction between the focal subjects and secondary objects in her paintings. Without facial features, Lee subtly alludes to the smallness of mankind, and uses the blank surroundings to echo Zhuangzi’s concept of “The Adjustment of Controversies”.  In this space, all beings, big and small, are created equal.

In “Man Order”, Lee reflects upon different species in the universe.  If the viewer focuses on the human ear, everyone looks similar. However, at a closer look, one will find that each ear is different. In a way, humans are a species which seeks commonalities whilst preserving individual differences. Whilst pursuing group unity and discipline, people should perhaps slow down and uncover the orderliness of the society.

Lee is keen to explore all kinds of two-dimensional flat spaces, and is also committed to exploring and creating larger, multi-dimensional spaces. “Several Spaces” depicts Lee’s exploration of different spaces and her new concept of “spaces”. Although CCTV screens are quite small and only a small portion of the recorded space can be displayed, such spatial limitations have urged Lee to step out of her comfort zone of drawing perfect, straight lines.  Instead, she creating spaces that are surrealistic.  This idea is further explored in the stop-motion animation “Late Shadow”, which presents the passage of time in continuous fragmented images. The animation shows the everchanging sequential relationship between a shadow and a real object as they meet on a chance encounter, change shape and return to their own positions. Perhaps, in addition to harmonizing chords, the world also needs transitional rhythms which bring about variations and pauses.

Lee’s works encourage people to reflect upon the organic connection between group communities and societal spaces, to quietly observe the hidden sequences in the hustle and bustle of the city, and to search for the secrets of the laws of the universe. 

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