Mr Danny Lee's studio
(the bottom art work is a motor covered by plastic bags which gives us a sense of curiosity of re-open it)
- His theme of the art work is Natural in the Urban area/ Stoned forest (石屎都市的森山水風景)
- The form of the art work will be mainly three-dimentional art work.
- The medium of the art work is sculpture.
- The cultural background of the art work is to raise the general public awarness of Hong Kong environmental protection by creating different form of natural resources sculptures like water because the pollution problems resulting from human activities in Hong Kong destroy our environment.
- The social background of his art work is he want to record the special form of the natural enclosed in our urban area and modern city. We should observe his art work carefully in different angles to view the new form of nature and feel the sense of presure. His work has been exhibit in different public area in Hong Kong.
- Interpretation of his art work
I think he noticed the problem of maintainance of sustainable development in Hong Kong. He used some stainless steel which represented the urban disturbance of the natural to colour the scupltures which represented the natural resources like water,cloud, steam. This indicated that all our natural resources were being destroyed by human activities in urban area. He wants to show that the infrastruction is essential to our social and economical development but harmful to our environment. Besides, he also learned the law of nature cycle from the nature which can be applied to his real life attitude. Therefore, our environment is worth to be protected.
He use different materials like silver-coloured stainless steel to colour the raindrops indicating that the law of water cycle(solid, liquid and gas form) in the urban area. The reflective property of stainless steel can be regarded as mirror to generate images reflecting the people and environment surrounded. Mr Danny Lee likes this special effect so much as they show the world in reverse and complete the cycle of cause and effect in the twisted opposite side of reality.
Others art works representing the natural environment show the relationship between environment and the sense of space.
- Personally feelings
I like his art work because he uses some special materials like the reflective property of stainless steel, recycled papers, plastic bags to present his idea of urban disturbance in natural which is creative. Not only the nature of art work could show his idea, but also the materials showed his effort on his work, which makes me surprized, especially for the stainless steel raindrop that has a phychological concept of virtual and real double-images behind. Besides, it is an excellent method for him to make use of huge scupltures to attract people attention on the issues. Sometimes, cooperation between different parties such as engineers may be required. Thus, I am appreciated on his industrious work. Hope that I can understand more on his view of sustainable development and concept of cycle in nature after the interview.
Reference:
Mr Danny Lee's presentation during the exhibition
http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/200606/14/P200606130248_print.htm
http://www.grottofineart.com/Danny%20Lee/Danny%20Lee%202009/Reflections.htm
http://www.asiaonebooks.com/productDetails.php?&bookID=00000027
I really agree that the giant stone sculpture really captured my eyes too. The detail description of Lee’s background alerted me that his works are actually around me in daily life, for example the sculpture in MTR Nam Cheong Station. I think Lee’s concept is really great as our materialism city always want to invent new products but how about the material used? Is it useless after all? Lee gives us the answer, NO! Moreover, the use of stone also made me find out the beauty of nature. If you add some creative idea on the materials from nature, it becomes a great artwork and embeds into part of your life.
ReplyDeleteI also agree that it is a wonderful way to raise the public awareness of environmental protection through Danny’s art works. The nature and idea of his artworks are amazing and inspiring. His art works bring out the ideas of cause and effect circulation to show our behaviors are relative. I think the messages behind Danny’s sculpture are meaningful especially for the concept of cycle in nature.
ReplyDeleteAlong with the rapid development of our society, it is crucial for us to get the well balance between urban development and environment protection. However, the people always overlook the importance of its.
I think it is an interesting and effective way to send the green message to the public through the inspiring art work like Danny’s one. Hope that there will be more people learn from his artworks too.
In few years ago, I already heard Danny's name. I know he is a great local artist, but for his art works, I do not have much understanding before. Doubtlessly, his sculptures are wonderful, which capture everyones' eyes. However, I did not know his message behind before reading your blog. In his artworks, he always choose some materials which seem to be useless, like stainless steel. I really had a wonder before, why doesn't he choose some materials with better texture or colour, that can bring out better effect? But now I know that,what Danny wants to show us is that, nothing is useless if we can make use of them.
ReplyDeleteThat is true for the society nowadays. As the society is developing. Many high-tech and innovative products are released in the market. In this way, many old items are treated as out-dated rubbish. People just throw them away eventhough they can still be used, creating more and more trash.
Therefore, I am happy to know that , someone is trying to bring out the message of environmental protection. Hope more Hong Kongers can watch Danny's artwork and change their habits.
The background information of the art works made by Danny Lee is clear. I also appreciate his sculptures while visiting his studio last time. His works, called “Landscape”, are greatly related to our natural environment. He has a careful observation which is reflected from his works. For example, some of the works are the shapes of raindrops and cloud. His technique of completing the sculpture really surprised me. He mentioned that he had to use the hammer to hit the steel (or other materials) and make it into a curve part. While he added that he used around half year to complete his masterpiece”都市水景”. I agree that his artwork would make me think of the cause and effect of anything in the world, and we might also rethink the effect of human activities to the atmosphere.
ReplyDeleteI have heard of Danny Lee for years, actually he is one of the famous artists in Hong Kong. His sculpture works are inspiring and interesting. I love the way to describe the theme of works as ‘Natural in the stoned forest’. As you mentioned, his artworks aim to raise the awareness of public on environmental protection. So Danny Lee’s creatures are made in natural shape and materials. It shortens the distance within us, the urban city and the nature. ‘We are enclosed to each other.’ Is the message that I think Danny Lee wants to tell. I can feel the nature in his works and this is amazing.
ReplyDeleteI do agree that the special materials Danny Lee has used are creative. I appreciate the attitude of him, which dares to try, dares to strive. Artists in Hong Kong are not well-supported, but they can still try hard to survive and insist on their dream. Like Danny Lee, finally gets reward from hard times. Hope you can ask the reason and obstacles of being an artist in HK.
http://www.k11concepts.com/tc/art/k11-collection.aspx
The link is about one of the Danny’s works, the Root. It’s a good example of the environmental protection concept. It’s shown in K11 shopping mall in Tsim Sha Tsui. The tree shape sculpture displays the nature lives with us in the stoned city, Hong Kong. The beauty should be kept and protected.
I hold with you that Danny Li’s sculptures are very inspiring and reflective. Nowadays, seldom artists would express the natural aspects in the form of sculpture, but he does. His art works are in such a giant size which will always give the audience sensational feelings. Take, the water droplets as an example, he would obtain unique materials to embody the shape of the water. Creating sculptures by using different sources is one of his ways to manifest the characteristics of the nature such as using the reflective property of the metal to make sculptures of water droplets and clouds in order to show their freshness and clearness. Each of his sculpture is tightly connected with another in a way that you can clearly observe through the sculptures. His works gives me a very strong message-to feel the life in nature and to conserve our nature. Moreover, his works could bring us far away from the concrete circumstances we are in and lead us to step into another stunning side of peaceful and quiet nature.
ReplyDeleteI am deeply impressed by his sculpture from the bottom of my heart. I have been to the Hong Kong Art Centre to view the chair he design there and compare with it to his artworks in studio that last time we gone. And I have the same feeling of you that the idea is special due to the use of material and size and thoughts. I guess from the starting point he is trying to use his art language to describe the nature and the emotions of him. That day I have talked to him and asked him how he will generate his idea of those artworks. And he said that these idea wont be generate instantly, but after observation and thinking. And he wont spend too much time on "gaining inspiration", but keep on designing and try to describe. And it has changed my mind that artist have to gain lots of inspiration before the artwork can be produce.
ReplyDeleteHowever, one curious have to be mentioned is that he have to work with those engineers, just like what you have written. And I feel that is quite similar as an architect, as idea and reality have to be linked together and practical. Therefore it much counteracted with the art thought by reality restriction. Therefore I really appreciated that his intelligence to bring those imaginary sculpture into reality.
It's such a wonderful exhibition there in Fotan. However, I was regret that I missed the event. But thanks to the photos and the description, they were like bringing me to the exhibition.
ReplyDeleteI believe Danny Lee is a talented artist. Nowadays, urban people waste a lot of natural resources, ranging from the electricity generated by coal or petroleum to water extracted from the ocean. We have no idea on the term of "environmental protection", even we have, we seldom live and act in a green way. By using different sculpture produced from different materials, Danny reminds us the way of living green and being friendly to the environment. Sustainable development is a key environmental concept, however, it's difficult for people to fully understand. Also, Danny's works show the ideas of sustainable development and the cycle of nature. It is admired that he used objects instead of words to present the concept, which enables more people to understand.