In her works, she strives for creating a harmonious blend between the traditional and the contemporary, using her calligraphy training as a way to communicate messages – both visual and emotional – in nuanced, unique ways. Through Chinese characters, Irene offers multiple interpretations of visual messages, which may be seem similar to its meaning, but are never identical.
Though the traditional often influences her works, Irene is not vessel through which the old merely lives on. Instead, she uses rice paper, Chinese brushstrokes, and traditional influence to bring the art form into a new era, one in which it is still powerful, bold, and mighty, but also flexible, refined, and fresh. Colour. Truth. Emotion. Irene’s work is a display of the myriad of thoughts that enrich and guide her. Her work guides the viewer through her rich personal history, but leaves the interpretation of these visual messages to the beholder.
Works
MEMBERSHIP IN ART SOCIETIES
- Treasurer, The Molan Art Association
- Secretary, International Art & Culture (Singapore) Federation
- Life Member, Hua Han Art Society
- Life Member, Singapore Art Society
- Life Member, The Society of Chinese Artists
- Life Member, Women Artists Association (Singapore)
- Life Member, Shicheng Calligraphy and Seal-Carving Society (Singapore)
- Life Member, Nanyang Group
Biography
| *1961 | in Singapur |
Exhibitions
Solo Exhibitions
| 2021 | Calligraphy Exhibition, Nanyang Calligraphy Center, Singapore |
| 2018 | Journey in Ink: The Legacy, German Center, Singapore |
| 1989 | Contemporary Chinese Paintings by Irene Lee, Johnson Museum, New York, USA |
Selected Exhibitions
| 2022 | “True Colors – Farbe bekennen”, Cologne, Germany |
| 2022 | The 25th World Calligraphy Grand Exhibition, China, Korea & Singapore |
| 2022 | Nanyang Calligraphy Exhibition 2022, Singapore |
| 2022 | The 29th Shicheng Moyun Calligraphy Exhibition, Singapore |
| 2022 | Singapore Poetry Calligraphy Exhibition 2022, Singapore |
| 2022 | “Gorgeous Transformation Art Exhibition 2022”. Women Artists Association, Singapore |
| 2022 | Living with the pandemic – The beauty of our Lion City, Singapore Art Society Art Exhibition 2022, Singapore |
| 2022 | 50th Anniversary, Asia Invitation Art Exhibition. Seoul, Korea |
| 2022 | Singapore Women Artists Exhibition 2022, “Magnificence Once More”, Federation of Art Societies Singapore (Chairperson of Organising Committee, Curator & Editor) |
| 2022 | Year of the Tiger Calligraphy Exhibition 2022, Federation of Art Societies Singapore (Secretary of Organising Committee) |
| 2022 | Calligraphy Exhibition in Spring Festival 2022, Shicheng Calligraphy & Seal-Carving Society, Singapore |
| 2022 | Year of the Tiger Oriental Art Painting Exhibition 2022, Federation of Art Societies Singapore |
| 2021 | The 28th Shicheng Moyun Calligraphy Exhibition, Singapore |
| 2021 | “海上生明月” 辛丑 Mid-Autumn Global Chinese Calligraphy Exhibition, China |
| 2021 | “Truth, Goodness and Beauty” International Women’s Art Exhibition, Ausstellung der Singapore Women Artists Association, Singapur |
| 2021 | The Molan Art Society 54th Anniversary Art Exhibition 2021, Singapore |
| 2021 | Korea, China, Japan Culture Cooperation Art Festival 2021, Seoul, Korea |
| 2021 | “海上生明月” 辛丑 Mid-Autumn Global Chinese Calligraphy Exhibition, China |
| 2021 | Impression Singapore 2021 “Arts in the midst of a pandemic”, Singapore 56th National Day & the Federation of Art Societies Singapore 30th Anniversary Art Exhibition, Singapore |
| 2021 | Alliance China Calligraphy Exhibition, China |
| 2021 | Singapore Poetry Calligraphy Exhibition, Nanyang Calligraphy Exhibition, Singapore |
| 2021 | “Truth, Goodness and Beauty” International Women’s Art Exhibition, Singapore Women Artists Association, Singapore |
| 2021 | “Voices & Visions” Singapore Women Artist Grand Art Exhibition 2021, Ausstellung der Federation of Art Societies Singapur |
| 2021 | “Heroes of Our Time” Commemorative Art Exhibition, Singapore Art Society and National Healthcare Group, Singapore |
| 2021 | Pan Shou 110th Anniversary Exhibition, Nanyang Calligraphy Center, Singapore |
| 2021 | “Art is Essential” Singapore Art Society Annual Art Exhibition, Singapore |
| 2021 | The Second Singapore Spring Festival Calligraphy Exhibition, Singapore |
| 2021 | Year of the Ox Calligraphy Exhibition, Federation of Art Societies Singapore |
| 2020 | “Blossom Through Art” Singapore Women Artist Exhibition 2020, Federation of Art Societies Singapore (Exhibition and Demonstration) |
| 2020 | The Nanyang Calligraphy Exhibition, Singapore |
| 2020 | The Society of Chinese Artists Exhibition, Singapore |
| 2020 | Chinese New Year Calligraphy Exhibition, Shicheng Calligraphy & Seal-Carving Society, Singapore |
| 2020 | Chinese New Year Calligraphy Exhibition and Demonstration, Tiong Bahru Arts Center and Community Center, Singapore |
| 2019 | The 27th Shicheng Moyun Calligraphy Exhibition, Singapore |
| 2019 | “Brilliant Art Rhapsody”, Singapore International Art Forum & Art Exchange Exhibition 2019, International Art & Culture Federation, Singapore |
| 2019 | “Revisiting History, Visualising the Future”, The Singapore Art Society Exhibition 2019, Bicentennial Edition, Singapore |
| 2019 | “Impression Singapore”, Singapore Bicentennial and National Day Art Exhibition 2019, Federation of Art Societies Singapore |
| 2019 | Singapore Art Society Exhibition 2019: Bicentennial Edition, Singapore |
| 2019 | School Motto Calligraphy Exhibition, Singapore |
| 2019 | The Singapore 200th Year International Women Truth, Goodness & Beauty Art Exhibition, Singapore |
| 2019 | “Thriving Through Art” Singapore Women Artists Grand Art Exhibition 2019, Singapore |
| 2019 | Singapore Art Society Annual Exhibition 2019, Singapore |
| 2018 | The Molan Reunion Art Exhibition 2018, Singapore |
| 2018 | Phang Weng Kiong and Students Exhibition 2018, Singapore |
| 2018 | Hwa Han Art Society 45 th Anniversary Art Exhibition, Singapur |
| 2018 | International Women’s Day Art Exhibition, Singapur |
| 2017 | The Molan Art Association 50th Anniversary Art Exhibition, Singapur |
| 2017 | Fan Chang Tien and His School of Ink Artists, Singapore |
| 2015 | Da Vinci: Shaping the Future, ArtScience Museum, Singapore (Initiatorin und Co-Kuration) |
| 2013 | Museum of Modern Art, New York |
| 2012 | Venice Architecture Biennale 2012 |
| 2012 | Little Sun Launch (with Olafur Eliasson), Tate Modern Museum of Art, London |
| 2004 | International Women’s Art Exhibition 2004, Federation of Art Societies Singapore |
| 2004 | Chinese Brush Painting and Calligraphy Exhibition 2004, Federation of Art Societies Singapore |
| 2000 | Hwa Hun Art Society Art Exhibition, Singapore |
| 1993 | Exhibition of Artworks by Singapore Artists, Empress Place Museum, Singapore |
| 1992 | Photography Exhibition, Harvard University, Graduate School of Design, USA |
| 1989 | The Council of Creative and Performing Arts Award, New York, USA |
| 1989 | The Council of Creative and Performing Arts Award, New York, USA |
| 1988 | The Shell Discovery Art Exhibition, Shell Companies in Singapore |
| 1982-88 | The National Day Art Exhibition, Ministry of Community Development, Singapore (1988, 87, 86, 85, 82) |
| 1987 | The Willard Straight Art Gallery Multi-Media Art Exhibition, New York, USA |
| 1987 | The National Museum Centenary Art Exhibition, National Museum, Singapore |
| 1986/87 | The National Day Visual Arts Fair, Singapore |
| 1985/86 | The Sculpture Workshop and Exhibition, Ministry of Community Development, Singapore |
| 1985 | National University of Singapore Arts Festival Exhibition, Singapore |
| 1983 | National Kidney Foundation Art Exhibition, Singapore |
Prizes / Scholarships
| 2021 | Awarded Gold Prize, The 24th World Calligraphy Grand Exhibition, China, Korea & Singapore |
| 2021 | Awarded Certificate of Honor for Outstanding Work, Global Chinese Kind Culture Calligraphy and Painting Exhibition, China |
| 2021 | Awarded Certificate of Honor. The 55th International Culture Art Exhibition, International Culture Association, Korea |
| 2019 | Awarded Bronze Prize, The 23rd World Calligraphy Grand Exhibition, China, Korea & Singapore |
| 2019 | Dr. Tan Tze Chor Art Award 2019 for Outstanding Work, The Art Awards Exhibition, Singapore |
| 2018 | Dr. Tan Tze Chor Art Award 2018 for Outstanding Work, The Art Awards Exhibition, Singapore |
| 1992 | Finalist/Highly Commended: 12th Annual Photography Contest, Photographer’s Forum, USA |
| 1985-88 | Highly Commended (1988, 1987), Second Prize (1985): The National Painting and Calligraphy Competition, Singapore |
| 1987 | Highly Commended: The Ministry of Communications and Information Art Competition and Exhibition, Singapore |
| 1972 | First Prize: National Day Art Competition, Singapore |
| 1972 | First Prize: “Keep Singapore Clean Campaign” Art Competition, Singapore |