Tofu & Violence is an exhibition featuring mixed media paintings and photographs by artist: Claire Lee.

Exhibition Statement:

The series of paintings is inspired by tofu, a metaphor of a gentle and unspoken power against violence. I’d like to explore how our souls might express a spiritual strength and quality in times of pain. The two extremes are brought to confront each other, probing the viewers to consider the relation of the two. I try to propose that nonviolence is a power with wisdom; it does not mean one is weak.

If I give you a brick of tofu, how would your hands respond to it before it breaks into pieces? In this project, I gave a brick of tofu to a group of participants of different backgrounds, asked them to use their bare hands or any body part to hold it, feel it, and exist with it. Photographs were taken as the participants were holding it. At the end of the session, they were aked to write bout their relationship with the tofu. It is just a piece of ordinary tofu. But in the intense moment of concentratin, it reveals the most basic instinct to us all-to protect, to destory or to maniuplate. I believe that to be able to contact with your inner self again is a beautiful nature of gentleness.

-Claire Lee

Opening Reception October 25, 2013 Friday 6pm
Artist Sharing November 2, 2013 Saturday 4pm

More information about the artist: www.clairelee.hk

Image: © Claire Lee, Pubart Gallery