Interview: Katherine Lee
Luca Curci talks with Katherine Lee during VENICE INTERNATIONAL ART FAIR 2021 at Palazzo Albrizzi-Capello, in Venice.

Katherine Lee is from Beijing, China. Deeply rooted in traditional Chinese culture, she has been studying Chinese calligraphy and classical Chinese poetry since childhood, elements that have continuously shaped her artistic style and brushstrokes. Dissatisfied with her engineering studies in college, she pursued an art master’s degree at Tsinghua University in China. From then on, logic and emotion became two fluctuating forces in her creative process – sometimes running parallel, other times intertwining or clashing chaotically.

In 2016, Katherine moved to Milan to study Urban Design and Fashion at Domus Academy. During the subsequent two-year period, she travelled extensively across Europe, experiencing the contrasts and fusions of Eastern and Western cultures. This journey reignited her desire to reconnect with her Chinese heritage. Katherine’s artistic pursuits focus on digital art, photography, and drawing. With the rapid development of AI, she aims to find a way to harmonize AI with human creativity.

LUCA CURCI – When you take photos, are you usually inspired by the situation or do you find inspiration in yourself?
KATHERINE LEE – Initially, the spark of inspiration stems from the external world: it could be a captivating vision, a poignant touching point, or a simply stunning view. Subsequently, when something occurs, it strikes a chord deep within me, awakening my inner core. This allows me to project my thoughts and worldview onto nature as if imprinting my essence onto the scenes captured through the camera lens and later refined by computer editing.

LC – According to you, what makes a good photo? Which details do you focus on?
KL – When I worked as a designer, I considered photographs an integral part of my creative process. Photography provided me with a direct means to showcase my thoughts and aesthetics. Similar to most photographers, I believed that light, theme, and a well-crafted composition were essential for creating a remarkable photo. However, once I delved into digital art, everything seemed to transform. The once-acknowledged principles no longer held the same significance. In this new realm, I found myself unbound by the familiar rules and boundaries of traditional art forms. Digital art was an entirely novel and enchanting field, drawing me in and inspiring me to pursue it professionally. Currently, my work centres around flowers and other botanical elements, exploring the connections between flowers and femininity, as well as the potential symbolic interpretations of flowers within the metaverse.

LC – How important is the editing process? How’s yours?
KL – As a digital artist deeply enamoured with technology, I deem the process of recreating to be of utmost importance. It’s akin to unlocking a new gateway that broadens my creative vision. I’m an advocate for AI, as it empowers artists to accelerate the creative journey and enriches the work with added dimensions of meaning and layout. Take my work on display here, for instance. It represents a significant challenge I’ve taken up to showcase the potential for recognition from the realm of classical art, pushing the boundaries of what’s possible.

LC – Did your style change over the years? In which way?
KL – Compared to my twenties, my artistic style has evolved significantly. My earlier photography was deeply imprinted by traditional Chinese aesthetics and Taoist philosophy. I strived to produce works with minimal embellishment or post-editing, chasing after a subdued, natural beauty that embraced simplicity. Owing to my career as a designer, over the past decade, I’ve dabbled in digital art out of sheer interest. Here, I’ve experimented with bold colors and striking contrasts.

With the emergence of the AI, my focus has shifted towards exploring the intersections between the metaverse and nature, as well as between traditional media like canvas, paper, and metals, and new ones such as screens, LEDs, and Web 3.0. In my view, we ought to craft distinct works tailored to different media and themes. This includes delving into the harmony between the digital realm and nature, creating crypto social art, and bridging the gap between the virtual and real life.

LC – What do you think about the concept of this exhibition? How did it inspire you?
KL – With over two decades of professional exposure in the international art market, the exhibition concepts you present serve as a compass, guiding us artists to grasp the current trends and focal points within the art realm. Take this latest concept, for instance. It has spurred me to probe into the intricate relationships between identities and the complexity of humanity. Nowadays, people are often reductively symbolized into mere labels and options, which explains the surging popularity of IP culture. Examples in the metaverse, like Cryptopunks and BAYC, exemplify this phenomenon vividly.

LC – What is the message linked to the artwork you have shown in this exhibition? How is it connected to the theme of the entire exhibition?
KL – My piece titled ‘BUBBLES’ serves as a poignant metaphor for the current phenomenon. In the crypto world, citizens resemble floating, numbered, and specialized bubbles – akin to portraits. These identities are shaped by external media forces rather than emerging organically from within. To thrive or merely survive in such an environment, a question arises: Should each of us conform and adopt portraits reminiscent of BAYC? (One can observe numerous such portraits on platforms like INSTAGRAM, TWITTER, and LINKEDIN.) This remains an open-ended topic, and I earnestly hope that more artists and art professionals will engage and contribute to this discourse.

LC – Do you think ITSLIQUID GROUP can represent an opportunity for artists?
KL – This is my first time to apply for an exhibition worldwide, with the help of Director Luca and ITSLIQUID GROUP, I am happy and grateful to be selected, also Venice is my favorite Place that I had visited many times. As a new one in this field, I think your platform really help me a lot on online and offline publicity of my thoughts and work, which gives me more opportunities and choices to the future exhibitions and art events.

LC – What do you think about the organization of our event?
KL – I’m highly interested in the event’s organization. As artists, we truly need such efficient and targeted events to bridge the gap between our work and the market, advisors, collectors, and so on. These platforms can assist us in striking the right balance between market value and academic worth, ensuring our creations reach their fullest potential in both arenas.

LC – Would you suggest a collaboration with us? What do you think about our services?
KL – I’m eager to learn more about your group and the services you offer. It would be truly wonderful if, in the future, there were opportunities for us to establish further connections and collaborations. Thank you very much.