I recently visited an art exhibition that left a deep and lasting impact on me. The exhibition, a tribute to the late Malaysian artist Mr. Lee Long Looi, was held at Balai Seni Lukis Negeri Pulau Pinang. It ran from September 5th to 19th, 2024, on the third floor of Dewan Sri Pinang, and it was an event I will never forget.
The invitation came from Ms. Elain Wong, who curated the exhibition for the first time. Despite being a new curator, Elain had earned the respect of Mr. Lee himself, and it was clear from the moment I arrived that the exhibition was a labor of love and admiration for his incredible legacy.
A Personal Tour with Kim Lee
As if the experience wasn’t already special, I was fortunate enough to have a personal tour of the exhibition led by none other than Mr. Lee’s wife, Kim. Walking through the exhibition with her felt like embarking on an intimate journey, not just through the artwork, but through Mr. Lee’s life itself.
Kim shared the story behind each piece, revealing the layers of meaning and emotion that went into every brushstroke. It was as though Mr. Lee was speaking to us through his paintings, each one a portal into his thoughts, his memories, and his dreams.
The experience gave me a sense of déjà vu, bringing back memories of my visit to Montmartre, Paris, the street where Vincent van Gogh once lived, his story and paintings etched into the walls. There, too, I had felt the artist’s presence, as though the art was alive with the spirit of its creator. Here at Mr. Lee’s exhibition, that feeling was even stronger.
The Artistic Journey: From Vibrant Colors to Reflective Monochrome
Mr. Lee Long Looi was known for his innovative approach to painting, frequently using mixed media to create texture and depth. One of the techniques that stood out to me was his use of cracks in the background, which he used to fill the lines of his compositions. His reverse painting style—starting with dark watercolor and diluting it to bring out tone and light—was fascinating and gave his pieces a dynamic, almost ethereal quality.
Throughout the exhibition, I was captivated by the recurring motif of cheerful women dressed in sarung and kebaya, set against the idyllic backdrop of kampung life. These vibrant paintings exuded joy and warmth, beautifully capturing everyday scenes—women working in paddy fields, tending to agricultural tasks, and embracing the simple, serene pleasures of rural life.
Mr. Lee's deep connection to these themes was likely rooted in his own childhood experiences. As the youngest of 12 siblings, he lost his parents at a tender age and was raised by his brothers and sisters. The maternal figures in his art seem to reflect a longing for the nurturing love and care that he missed, a poignant tribute to the familial bonds that shaped his life.
But as we moved further into the exhibition, a shift in tone became evident. The vibrant, colorful scenes gave way to a more minimalist, monochromatic style—doodle-like, black-and-white drawings that felt introspective and filled with quiet reflection. I couldn’t help but ask Kim Lee about this change, and her answer was both heartbreaking and profound.
Dementia’s Influence on Art: A Reflection of Duality
Kim shared that Mr. Lee was diagnosed with dementia more than a decade before his passing in 2023. As his condition progressed, his art changed with him. The once-cheerful depictions of women in sarung and kebaya gave way to darker, more contemplative pieces.
When Kim asked him about this shift, he told her, “I have two sides. Now I’m drawing my other side.”
This revelation added a new layer of meaning to his later works. The doodles, which became a frequent habit of Mr. Lee’s, were often created on anything within reach—paper serviettes, T-shirts, box covers, coasters, even money. He would give these doodles away to people passing by, sharing little pieces of his soul with strangers. At his memorial, Kim said they gave away many of these doodles as souvenirs, a touching gesture that reflected Mr. Lee’s generosity and the deeply personal nature of his art.
My interpretation: "Out of the Box"
Drawn during the late stages of Mr. Lee Long Looi’s life, this striking black-and-white piece speaks to the artist’s internal journey through dementia. The maze-like arrangement of boxes, filled with fragmented shapes and abstract symbols, mirrors the disjointed nature of daily thoughts and activities as his cognitive world shifted. Each box seems to represent a moment of reflection or memory, some clear and others clouded. Yet, amid this complex grid, a figure breaks free, joyfully leaping out of the structured confines. This powerful gesture could symbolize the artist’s yearning to transcend the limitations of his condition, finding freedom and expression even as his mind grappled with dementia. It portrays the resilience of the human spirit—the search for liberation and meaning amidst the constraints of memory loss.
Kim also spoke about her role in caring for Mr. Lee throughout his illness. Despite his dementia, he remained remarkably independent, able to care for himself with Kim’s gentle encouragement. She made sure he exercised daily and followed a healthy diet, fostering a sense of autonomy even in the face of his illness. When asked if he still remembered how to draw and paint, Kim reassured us that he did.
“They have selective memory,” she explained, a poignant reminder of how art, like memory, is something that transcends the physical limitations of the mind.
Conclusion: A Lasting Legacy
As I left the exhibition, I was filled with admiration not just for Mr. Lee Long Looi’s artistic talent, but for the strength and love that carried him through his later years. His paintings are more than just beautiful works of art—they are windows into his soul, each one telling a story of joy, loss, resilience, and reflection. His legacy lives on, not just in the vibrant, colorful pieces that made him famous, but in the quiet, contemplative doodles that he left behind.
The exhibition was a celebration of an artist who, even in his final years, continued to create, to inspire, and to share his vision with the world. For those of us lucky enough to witness it, it was a reminder of the power of art to speak to us across time and space, bridging the gap between life and memory, between the artist and the viewer.
If you have the chance to visit this exhibition, I highly recommend it. It’s a journey not just through the art of Mr. Lee Long Looi, but through his life, his mind, and his heart.
Disclaimer:
The writing above is purely based on my personal interpretation of my conversation with Kim Lee, the late artist's wife. The emotions and meanings derived from the photo and artwork reflect my own understanding, as it was the artist's wish, according to Kim Lee, for viewers to interpret his work in their own unique way. Please note that the photos taken of the art pieces do not fully capture the depth and brilliance of Mr. Lee Long Looi's work. I highly encourage a visit to the exhibition to truly experience the paintings and feel them speak to you in person.
By SITI Network founder, Li Li
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