Winter has gone and spring has come, the flower season is in full bloom. In the flowery world of Art Month, I inadvertently saw the artwork of Afa Lee – two girls with picturesque features playing in the swimming pool, their bright and kind eyes like blooming flowers, so beautiful and moving, unforgettable.
When it comes to Afa, you might think of her fashionable appearance, delicate features, and skilled modeling posture, or multiple identity labels: she is not only an illustrator, but also various on-screen roles, having shot countless advertisements and TV series, and has also drawn MV illustrations for singers such as Eason Chan and Khalil Fong, even receiving a nomination for Best MV in Taiwan. Every aspect of her is blooming and fragrant, making people can’t help but stop and admire.
The flowering season has arrived, so we made an appointment with Afa to take us into her doll world, deconstructing her “flower” pattern.
Afa and Chuanhua
Appreciating Afa’s work, you will find the style interesting, revealing a taste of Japanese ukiyo-e and bizarre manga, and you can also feel the delicate brushwork. The fictional characters are also very vivid and three-dimensional, full of vitality in both emotions and colors. Stepping into her studio, you are greeted with a refreshing and bright feeling, and can’t help but feel that “the art reflects the artist.”
In the studio, there are no flowers, but different dolls are placed around, some are tattered and peeling, some are full of a sense of the times, the kind that makes your scalp tingle… Not to be outdone, they all stare with a pair of eyes, staring at the visitors.
Afa shared that those are dolls she collected from antique shops and flea markets around the world, and there are many dolls that don’t have space to display, so they can only be stored in boxes. Then, she pointed to one of them and introduced that it was a doll she made by hand, named “Chuan Hua.”
“River Flower” took me nearly three months to create, from molding clay from powder, to laying mud, soldering, and carving, even the eyes, hair, and other details, I personally flew to Taipei to learn from a master, learning as I worked.
Just as she introduced it, it made people feel more and more that “Chuanhua” is extremely similar to Afa, even the names are the same. Afa said that her English name is derived from the Chin-lish pronunciation of “Ahua”, and the doll’s name also has “Hua” in it, with a tattoo of the name on her body.
No wonder “Chuanhua” is lively and playful, with a charming look in her eyes. So, are the dolls and the one in the painting the same person? “There is only one ‘Chuanhua’, and the ones I paint are all called ‘Qiqi’, so I especially cherish ‘Chuanhua’.”
Speaking of this, she recalled the story of naming “Kiki”. At the Art Central two years ago, she created a piece related to the immigration trend, dividing the installation space into “Kiki Laundry” and a British living environment. The name was hastily chosen at the time, and she immediately thought that “Kiki” sounded very traditional, like a name that old Hong Kong laundries would use. It naturally evolved into the name of the girl in the painting. However, Afa reiterated, “‘Kiki’ is not a specific person, but an entity of collection. Integrating the people, personalities, or ideas I notice, then splitting them into many different ‘hers’ to express.”
Perhaps different in many ways, but what cannot be ignored on them is precisely those eyes that seem to carry an entire universe.
The original intention of creation
“I like to draw characters, especially expressions, eyes, fingers, etc. I particularly like things related to life, living, and emotions. I have always believed that this world is full of flaws, and people who have been hurt are kinder.”
“I always look for commonalities or connections between different things, and then construct new contexts to present. Just like my latest creation, the inspiration comes from the recent movie ‘Poor Things’ and a documentary about mushrooms called ‘Fantastic Fungi.’ For example, mushrooms decompose some things and then generate new things; while in the movie, the female protagonist dies but is saved and reborn by scientists. The lantern-sleeved shirt worn by Emma Stone in the movie always feels very similar to mushrooms, so I link them together to explore the theme of life and death.”
Women, instincts, life and death, even ghosts and monsters, are common themes in her work, which are neatly arranged in her studio bookshelf. And her favorite book among them, called “Journey of the Senses,” is a deconstruction of the origin, development, and natural history of the five senses.
She described herself as a highly sensitive person, so she is particularly interested in sensory perception and is easily influenced by others or the environment. She also laughed and gave an example, saying that the monster character she created was extracted from the dark side of human beings.
“Whether it’s erotica or monsters, they are the most hidden primal desires of human nature. In today’s society, there are too many norms and constraints, causing people to lose their uniqueness. I feel that this era is more in need of rediscovering one’s original intentions or instincts, doing things or having things that one wants to do. So through my own work, I try to express these more.” Afa said.
True to oneself
“I believe that maintaining curiosity is a key element in keeping one passionate about life.”
From work to creation, everything stems from her curiosity, with the intention of not stifling any possibilities. In conversation, she talks about the origins of her painting – influenced by her father since childhood, she enjoys artistic creation, but she never actually thought about making painting her career. “Everyone is a Hong Konger, practical people, and parents rarely suggest their children to pursue art, especially considering the deep-rooted belief that artists can’t make a living.”
So she also went with the flow, choosing a more stable path, studying practical design, and then working as an art director in an advertising company after graduation. Not straying too far from art, everything fell into place, but whenever she saw other people’s illustrations, she couldn’t help but feel the itch. Three years later, she decided to quit her full-time job and start her career as an illustrator. Transitioning from a high-paying job to a freelance worker may seem whimsical, but it was also a choice she made after much consideration and experience, just like her artwork. “Just like the clothes you choose to wear, it’s the feeling you want to convey to others; and what my work presents is the deepest, innermost, truest self.”
However, upon closer inspection and careful listening, one will discover that the innocent and lovely “Chuan Hua” has a contrasting strong and bright appearance. “Most people would think that one’s personal style should align with their work, but in reality, as long as I speak a little more, everyone will notice that I have a bit of an ‘old-fashioned’ side, so I always try to showcase a more strong and resilient aura and feeling through my outfits.” Afa continued, “And the women in my drawings do not have fashionable appearances or clothing, they only wear simple underwear or swimsuits. I think, because they represent my original intention and Inner Child, they are the purest and most naked existence.”
Keeping each other company along the way
However, everyone has their own way of interpretation, permeated with subjective orientations, so it is difficult for us to understand the author’s original intention through translations, and it is also difficult to get to know the people on stage through performances. What’s more, we may not even truly and completely understand ourselves, let alone expect to be understood by others.
So, Afa sometimes feels lonely, just like the innocent and lovely “Chuanhua” that actually hides a hint of deep and unhideable melancholy, and behind “Qiqi’s” agility, her eyes give the illusion of falling into a black hole, “Sometimes I feel like I’m drifting too far, as if I don’t belong anywhere.”
Did not expect that having different identities and different perspectives would be her highlight, but also her weakness. “Because I am on the fringes of different circles, in the actor’s circle, I am not even considered an actor; it’s even harder in the art world, how can others easily accept me? There are even rumors, thinking that I am just playing around.”
To be honest, drawing has always been a form of self-achievement and self-satisfaction. It is not easy to turn it into a career, and this ideal cannot be proven in a short period of time. After spending several years, I received the DFA Hong Kong Young Design Talent Award and various nominations related to art. It seems that there are some achievements that can be openly shared with others, showing that I am serious about drawing. However, at this point, she had a change of heart. “Actually, there is no need to tell others, because I enjoy playing different roles, and all of these have enriched my life.” She paused and explained further, “For example, filming TV series, commercials, or stage performances, all involve roles given to me by others, it is passive. Only in drawing, I can freely express myself, dominate the creation in my own work. So, when creating, I am in the most comfortable and relaxed state.”
Clear eyes do not necessarily mean a clear future, but the unknown is the meaning of effort. Although there have been loneliness and confusion on this dream road, the appearance of “Chuanhua” feels like adding a companion for her, adding a soulmate who can share the same taste, and slowly walking together. Suddenly, I feel that I am not alone.
“Although it seems like I have many identities, in reality, I have already downplayed and no longer have any other identities, only painting,” Afa said.
Keep Curious About the Big World
And this curiosity not only leads her into different realms, taking on different roles, exploring different worlds, but even her life and studio are drifting in different places.
Recently, she moved her studio to Tai Hang and had a different experience. “The previous studio was in an industrial building, although the space was larger, there was no stimulating environment around, but always a bustling, crowded atmosphere.” Later, recommended by a friend, she fell in love at first sight after visiting. “I used to live in this area too, but it feels different now. The place is not only filled with artistic atmosphere and strong neighborhood sentiment, everyone is happy and helpful, it feels magical.”
Have different places and environments affected your creativity? She laughed and said, “Now there is more popularity and vitality, but also more crisis. Because I often run into friends in this area, the time for painting will be reduced.” After the laughter, she put on a serious face and said, “I used to like to create with ready-made large frames, but now with a smaller space and stairs to climb, it’s inconvenient to bring the frame up. Now I can only nail the canvas to the wooden wall to paint, and then mount the frame after it’s done.” In Hong Kong, where land is scarce, it is indeed impossible to have both fish and bear’s paw. “I have also discussed with artist friends about how regions, climates, and spaces affect the artist’s creativity. It’s quite interesting, and I hope to share ideas for creating on this theme.”
Watching Afa and Chuanhua’s sincere interaction, I can’t help but think of a sentence by Hong Kong writer Xi Xi: “In the floating city, looking in the mirror cannot find answers or predict the future. However, being able to know the past is not a bad thing, history can serve as a lesson, which is another positive meaning of the existence of the floating city mirror.
Enjoy playing with dolls, creating dolls, giving a place for the original intention and soul, they also represent Afa’s hope, a dream, and countless chapters.
A flower does not necessarily have to compete for beauty, just need to bloom freely. Just like this, with each breath, each step, let the heart live like a child, continue to grow resiliently!
