Beijing Goes West

Beijing Goes West
Between December 2007 and June 2008 Justin Lee made four trips to Beijing in the People’s Republic of China. This enabled Justin to create a subject matter out of the East and West Juxtaposition namely due to gearing up of the Olympics and how China is groping to adjust being in the spotlight amidst all this growing tension and attention.

He uses wit in his subject matter to bring about the subtle nuances in the tiresome procedure of gearing up for the Olympics and creates beautiful images through the ancient Chinese art of paper cut motifs . Using iconic signs as a silhouetted Mickey Mouse and the famous M sign that is normally understood as Mc. Donald’s he brings about the subtle hint of it also standing for Mao. This interlacing of how the influences of the West have been adopted and yet have been mixed in the mainstream culture as their very own iconic symbols if what Justin seems to emphasize.

Works such as the Olympic Treats brings about the twist in the children’s fate. He uses the Olympic signs as dollops of ice cream creating an excellent pop art image. However when one strips the layers you do see what Justin wants us to which is the hardship that the children have been facing for the rigorous training and hence losing out on what should normally be their childhood. In works such as the Torch Bearer he brings about the commercial aspect of the Sponsors being in the spotlight instead of the sportsmen and hence the old man as being the torch bearer hinting his wealth as the reason he gets the key role.

Justine Lee born in Singapore and has done his diploma from Laselle-SIACollege of Arts in1999. He then went on to do his BA in painting from NAFA in 2006. Justin does not restrict himself to the canvas alone but is also known for his public installations and décor concepts for shopping centers (Gaysorn Plaza, Bangkok, 2006; Centrepoint, Singapore 2007) and product promotional art (Absolut Vodka, Loewe TV). He has won diverse awards such as the Singapore Motorola Style Awards 2005 (Visual Arts) and is one of the international winners of the Montblanc Young Artist World Patronage Project 2006. Beijing Goes West is his Sixth Solo exhibition and is on now at the Utterly Art until the 10th of August 2008.

Beijing Goes West
Justin Lee
Utterly Art
229A South Bridge Road, Level 2
Tel: 6226 2605
Email: utterlyart@pacific.net.sg
Mon –Sat 12 p.m. -8 p.m., sun 12 p.m. 5:30 p.m.