Yi- Ya LEE
Wensday Morning
Oil Pastel on Paper
91*72.5cm
2024
Since 2016, oil pastel has become my primary medium. I'm always thinking about how to express my presence through the unique charm of this medium. While painting, I rely on the strength of my fingers to continuously draw lines and smear, leaning forward and looking along the edge of the brush tip. I see the texture, like a carpet knit, emerging from the edge of the paper—that fuzzy edge.
The edge is reflected in the form of my creation. My work has always revolved around spatial representation. Through cutting and collecting various corners with scissors, I gather spaces from exquisite home magazines, downloaded and printed from rental websites, or classic works from art history—what I call secondhand spaces. Through deconstruction and reconstruction, the cut edges become indispensable. The viewer's eye can wander along the cut lines, like exploring a new map; the edge becomes a visual guide.
This piece, "Wednesday Morning," was inspired by my wife's weekly Ikenobo flower arrangement class on Tuesday evenings. The next morning, she would always find fresh flowers adorning our home and studio. Therefore, I attempted to recreate my feelings about seeing flowers in the morning through collage, hoping to imbue the otherwise realistic space with a more imaginative charm.