25 Apr, 2024
Nikki S. Lee, a controversial visual artist, explores Western cultures through her mysterious aesthetics. Born Seunghui Yi, she adopted the name after vogue inspiration. She studied fashion and worked as an assistant to David LaChapelle, creating her notable series, Projects, from 19997 to 2001.
The Hip-Hop Project look, Lee admitted in an interview, that she had to visit a tanning salon twice or thrice in order to “blend in”. Over the years, Lee has received a fair amount of criticism such as condoning and performing “Blackface” and “Cultural appropriation” largely due to her works The Hispanic Project and The Hip-Hop Project.
Parts 2002 In the year 2006, Lee made a mocumentary titled, A.K.A. Nikki S. Lee wherein she played 2 fake versions of herself, delving not just into the documentary as a genre but also into narrative fiction.
The Exotic Dancers Project, for which the photographer had a dieting routine for 3 months along with a personal trainer.
The Lesbian Project Lesbian Project, the photographer for all these projects would hang out with a group for 3-4 months and develop a group identity then ask someone to click a picture with them.
IThe Ohio Project The Ohio Project wherein she had bleached blonde hair, and fit in with white upper-middle-class American culture. In one of her photos, she is seen with a white American holding a rifle, with the Confederate Flag hanging on the back wall
Parts, 2002-04 In Parts, Lee explores the changing identity in different romantic relationships. The cropping out of the partner shifts the focus to the woman in the picture who is the focal point also enacted by Nikki Lee herself.
Scenes, 2014 Scenes was an extension of Parts. It consists of several videos wherein Lee is seen making out with different men in varying settings. It documents the awkwardness and disparate feelings that come with physical intimacy.
Two Monks, TBA Lee is also said to be working on a movie titled Two Monks which showcased homosexual relations between a Korean and an American Monk. The film is said to be a lens that is away from orientalism.
Layers, 2008 This 2008 artwork by the artist showcases layers of her portraits drawn by street artists spanning 14 cities. She handed tracing papers to each of the street artists, and these photographs consisted of 3 layers of sketches at a time. It is a comment on the multilayered personality that every human possesses.