Harbour City’s Gallery by the Harbour and Neuberg ArtSpace will present to you the “Beyond Circles and Squares” Sculpture Exhibition by Aries Lee” from 21st May to 7th June 2010. The exhibition will showcase more than 10 masterpieces of Aries Lee.
What is inspiration? How can an artist create an original work? Aries Lee never “references” other artists’ sculptures. He starts every design from basic – point, line and surface. Beyond circles and squares, his sculptures are always powerful and charming. Aries appreciates all kinds of creative arts, ranging from music, dramas, circus to movies. However, right before he starts creating, he stops seeing any arts and just let the inspiration expand from inner-self. That is why he always encourages the jewelry designers not to see much of other jewelries, and same to sculptors. Sculptors should not view too much about sculptures in order to avoid “plagiarism”.
Perhaps it was the unique childhood giving Aries a special start. He was surrounded by animals, like monkeys and elephants, when he was a kid because his father was a trader of animals and used to own an “animal farm” in Tseun Wan, Hong Kong! In 1960’s, Japan had not been a popular choice for further studies yet, Aries decided to go to this country not because he wanted to learn Japanese art or culture, but he understood that Japan was undergoing a fast and ambitious change, learning a lot from the western world. He liked to be a “sponge” as what he perceived the Japanese at that time were, absorbing all kinds of essence from the world. Don’t forget, at that time he was only a 10 some years old youngster to have such a perspective.
Graduated from Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music with a master degree in Fine Arts, Aries got the scholarship to further study at Düsseldorf National Academy of Art in Germany. Afterwards, he came back to Hong Kong to be a lecturer in the Chinese University of Hong Kong. Meanwhile, he was commissioned to do many public sculptures in Hong Kong. His famous work of 3 pieces of sculptures at Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre were unveiled by Prince Charles and Princess Diana in early 90’s.
However, at the “peak” (though he always says he is not reaching the peak yet) of his career, Aries chose to accompany the sons to California to further study. Aries had been spending more than 10 years there self-studying 3D design. With the age of 67 now, Aries can manage to use either computer as a tool, or the traditional skills to work on sculptures. Moreover, his design is not limited to sculptures nowadays, but extends to jewelry, watches, furniture and even buildings. He believes that we are embraced by the ambience of art; our lives are happier and more enjoyable.
Please come to Gallery by the Harbour to see his sculptures, the “Beyond Circles and Squares”, and understand more about his views on art. Aries welcomes media interview during the exhibition period, with prior appointment.
