ARTIST STATEMENT

Lee Yip (b. 1982)

British-Chinese Multidisciplinary Artist
Based in London and Seoul

As a self-taught artist working in photography, sculpture, and printmaking, I explore human emotion and perception through objects, especially flowers. Ten years ago, my diagnosis of Complex PTSD changed my creative path. This personal journey shapes my art, where I use everyday items as metaphors for isolation, catharsis, and resilience.

I focus on objects over people. By closely observing my surroundings, I navigate feelings of hypervigilance and dissociation. I capture textures, colors, and patterns that naturally form in overlooked urban spaces—the unnoticed details that reveal traces of human activity.

In my still-life compositions, I manipulate flowers—twisting or altering them—to symbolize disrupted emotions. This reflects how outside forces can distort our inner experiences. My photography uses harsh lighting and vivid, sometimes oversaturated colors to mirror intense and surreal perceptions. Blurred depths of field detach subjects from their environment, echoing dissociation.

I often physically alter my prints—crumpling paper or applying resin—to create sculptural forms. This process embodies the tension between creation and decay, mirroring my history of building and deconstructing. It transforms destructive impulses into new expressions, emphasizing resilience over ruin.

By sharing my work openly, I challenge my tendencies toward avoidance and isolation. This vulnerability is a deliberate step toward connection, despite the risk of judgment.

Through my art, I invite you to engage with themes of imperfection, distortion, and renewal. I aim to create a space that acknowledges the unresolved and imperfect, reflecting the human experience of healing and self-discovery.