Writer, Lee Mok Yee: Une esquisse céleste, essay for Lee Mok Yee’s solo exhibition at Galerie Huit Arles, France

Held from 6 to 30 October 2022, at Galerie Huit Arles, France, Une Esquisse Céleste was an exhibition of Lee Mok Yee’s culmination of his residency at the gallery. The exhibition showcased two distinct series of sketches that delve into personal memory and artistic process. The first series, created during his residency at Rimbun Dahan in Malaysia, features charcoal drawings inspired by natural forms such as fruits and tree branches which Mok Yee created by relying on memory, allowing for imaginative interpretations and free bodily movements. The second series comprises etchings on stainless steel and aluminum plates, where Mok Yee's gestures are constrained by the medium's rigidity. This meticulous process reflects a personal struggle, embedding his memories and emotions into the metal surfaces. Une Esquisse Céleste exemplifies Mok Yee's exploration of the "in-betweenness" in art, where collective memories intersect with personal curiosities, resulting in works that are both intimate and universal.

“At this point of encounter - between a banal object and an artist’s imagination - Mok Yee’s works reach a “celestial” state, which he amplifies through other elements that complete the display. Romantic, the exhibit transports viewers to natural places. Firstly, through a video showing repetitive movements of waters near a shore, and then a vertical photoprint of a tree. If recollections were to evolve into aesthetic forms, this installation would be a perfect example.”

– Excerpt from Lee Mok Yee: Une esquisse céleste by Amanda Ariawan, 2022.

Read Amanda's full essay on issuu.com/leemokyee/docs/a4_print_eng_2

About Lee Mok Yee

Lee Mok Yee is a Kuala Lumpur-based artist known for his process-oriented practice that explores materiality and function in art-making. Graduated from Dasein Academy of Art and later the University of London, Middlesex, Lee frequently works with readymade and store-bought objects, rearranging them to challenge uniformity and question the structures that define change. He received the Gold Prize at the UOB Painting of the Year award in 2021 and was the 2022 laureat of Arles-Penang Exchange Residency. A strong advocate for collaborative practice, Lee co-founded Labour and Weight, a temporary collective with artists Okui Lala, Yeo Lyle, and Koe Cheng Gaik, supported by CENDANA’s Art in the City Public Art Commissioning Project. Visit his website leemokyee.com to learn more about him and his works.

About Galerie Huit Arles

Galerie Huit Arles is located in a 17th century mansion in the UNESCO World Heritage site of Arles, France. Established in 2007, the gallery is renowned for its thoughtfully curated exhibitions, showcasing both emerging and established artists, and exceptional installations. Exhibitions are curated independently or through collaborations, complemented by exclusive private viewings. Beyond exhibitions, Galerie Huit Arles offers Art Stays for travelers, artist residencies, and thematic workshops, making it more than just an art space—it is a creative, inspirational and convivial venue set in a stunning historic location. Visit www.galeriehuitarles.com to learn more about Galerie Huit Arles.