Exhibition 6 June - 1 July 2019
In 2018, while preparing for a new series, I embarked on a small project titled “Being Alone Together”. This exhibition took place in an empty space in my hometown Hong Kong. This intimate setting encouraged meaningful conversations and contemplative moments during the difficult times, framed by drawings and objects I created in United Kingdom, where I resided at the time. I felt profound connections, a sense of soul recognition and a resonance with both nature and humanity. Solitude, unlike loneliness, became a strikingly visual emotion.
The photographic images are composed of clay and plaster objects I’ve crafted. These photo prints are paired with my childhood photographs to create a “spiritual landscape”. This landscape illustrates the vast distance between childhood and adulthood through tangible material contrasts. It embodies a state of mind seeking harmony amidst today’s discordant reality.
My poetry collection titled “POEMS ON SOLITUDE FROM 3 CITIES,” written in London, New York, and Stockholm between 2018 and 19, were also launched in conjunction with the exhibition.
This independently organised exhibition took place in an empty shop space on the first floor of an old building in Central, Hong Kong.
Through the branches
Installation of real mulberry branches hanging upside down from the ceiling
Being Alone Together - solo exhibition
Installation
The Distance Between Us
The three soft plastic toys in the smaller picture were comfort objects when I was a child. They symbolized the pureness in bonding and loyalty. Through the years the ocean of life batters our hearts and we become hard and flawed like these plaster columns. We almost forgot that despite the distance between us, we are still standing not far to each other.
小畫面中的三個軟塑料玩具是我小時候的玩伴。它們象徵着友誼和忠誠的純潔。多年來，生命不斷拍打沖撃我們的心靈，我們變得像這些石膏柱一樣堅硬和充滿缺陷。彷彿忘記了儘管我們之間的距離，我們仍然站在彼此不遠的地方。
Hand crafted plaster objects, Giclée print on Hahnemühle German Etching, small old photograph
The Strange Planet in Your Eyes
This work is about mourning that is filled with a strange sense of humility and openness. The silhouette of my cat’s head is the simplest form drawn from abundant details of human emotions. I imagined through her deep eyes on the other end is a beautiful landscape of solitude. It displayed a thoughtful piece of comfort. The mourning becomes the acceptance of something bigger than the sorrow but not without it.
相片作品是關於哀悼，它充滿一種奇異的謙卑和開放感。貓頭的輪廓那簡單的缐條呈現了人類情感的豐富細節。我想像，我貓那雙深深的眼睛的另一端是一個美麗的孤獨景觀。它表現出一種靈氣充滿的舒適感。哀悼成為比悲傷更有力的東西，接受傷痛而擴張它成為更闊的視野。
Artist-made plaster and clay objects, Giclée print on Hahnemühle German Etching, 419 x 295 mm, edition of 5 + 1 AP
All I Ever Wanted
In the photo is a ‘solitary land’ features an object made by artist which is displayed together. It is a discovery inside our human psyche. The vision in the darkness extends far into the void in search of a child within.
Plaster object, Giclée print.
And Then the Sky Opened Up
As I begin to assemble objects, forms, layers, textures and so on with clay, I am already discovering something about dimensions and qualities of my heart in this world. My thoughts act upon the imagination in solitude and landscape manifested upon by it.
Artist-made clay objects
Giclée print on Hahnemühle German Etching
594 x 417 mm, edition of 5 + 1 AP
The Trivial Matters
Heaps of emotions came together living majesty dwelling in one landscape. Perspectives distorted, large matters became small and small things turned to colossal.
Ink and charcoal on acid free paper, slate rock, wood
24 x 30 x 3 inch
The Trivial Matters (Detail)
Cloud Dance (Detail)
After All These Years
It is a drawing of a lone tree I saw during a walk at Seven Sisters chalk cliffs in United Kingdom. It stood alone in resilience against harsh coastal environment. It grew bent away from the prevailing wind direction. The bending posture reminds me of a character of grace and strength one can achieve in solitude.
Ink, charcoal and pencil on acid free paper, canvas, wood
16.5 x 23.5 x 3 inch
After All These Years (Detail)
A Bleeding Rock
The bandaged rock is not the one that bleeds. Injury does not belong only to the one who hold the wound. This work is dedicated to the ones who dare to bear and be there to share other's suffering.
Two rocks, bandage, red ink
90 x 90 x 50 mm
Let the Wind Blow Through Your Hair I
Charcoal on acid free paper
500 x 700 mm
A Greater Whole I
Charcoal on acid free paper
297 x 420 mm
Sanctuary I (Detail)
Sanctuary II
A cotton ball finds a sanctuary for my mind inside a gigantic rock. One may find solace and comfort in the space or landscape that emerges to reflect one’s inner shelf and desire.
Ink, charcoal on acid free paper
415 x 585 mm
All I Ever Wanted
Artist-made plaster object
BEING ALONE TOGETHER POEMS ON SOLITUDE FROM 3 CITIES
By Claire Lee
London, New York, Stockholm
2018 -2019
New poetry collection in English are written during time spent in London, New York and Stockholm between 2018 - 2019.
It is in First Limited Edition. A4 size. Loose sheets no binding. Printed on Japanese-made paper.
In stock. Please contact for details.
Poetry Installation
Poetry display
People are invited to sit on the mat to read the poetry and observe light and shadow moving slowly on the smooth Japanese paper.
