Winter has gone and spring has come, with the flower season in full bloom. Inside the flowery world of Art Month, I unintentionally came across the artwork of Afa Lee – two picturesque little girls playing in the pool, their eyes bright and lovely like blooming flowers, so beautiful and stirring, unforgettable.
When it comes to Afa, one might think of her fashionable appearance, exquisite features, and skilled model posture, or multiple identity labels: she is not only an illustrator, but also various on-screen roles, with numerous advertisements and TV series to her credit. She has also painted MV illustrations for singers such as Eason Chan and Khalil Fong, and even received a nomination for the Best MV in Taiwan. Every aspect of her is like a blooming flower garden, exuding a fragrant aroma, making it impossible not to 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” motif.
Afa and Chuanhua
Appreciating Afa’s works, one would find the art style eccentric, exuding a blend of Japanese Ukiyo-e and avant-garde manga flavors, while also sensing the delicate brushstrokes. The fictional characters’ personalities are vivid and dimensional, filled with vitality in both emotions and colors. Stepping into her studio, one is greeted by a refreshing and bright feeling, also unwittingly feeling that “the art reflects the artist.”
In the studio, there were no flowers, but various dolls were placed around. Some were tattered and worn, some had a vintage feel, and all had a pair of eyes staring at visitors that could send shivers down one’s spine.
Afa shared that those dolls were collected by her from antique shops and flea markets around the world. There are still many dolls that she doesn’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 handmade by her, named “Chuan Hua.”
“‘River Flower’ took me nearly three months to create, from molding clay from powders to laying mud, soldering, and carving. Even details like eyes and hair, I personally flew to Taipei to learn from a master, learning and crafting at the same time.”
As she introduced it, one cannot help but notice the striking resemblance between “Chuan Hua” and Afa, even their names are similar. Afa mentioned that her English name is derived from the Chinese name “Ah Hua” and translated into Chin-lish, with the word “Hua” in both her name and even tattooed on her doll.
No wonder “Chuanhua” appears lively, cute, and full of charm. So, are the doll 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.'”
Talking about this, she recalled the story of naming “Kiki.” Two years ago at Art Central, she created a piece related to the immigration wave, dividing the installation space into “Kiki Laundry” and a British living environment. She named it hastily at that time and thought of “Kiki,” feeling the name was very traditional, like what an old laundry shop in Hong Kong might use. It naturally evolved into the name of the girl in the painting. Afa reiterated that “‘Kiki’ is not a specific individual, but a collective existence. It integrates people, personalities, or ideas I’ve noticed, then splits them into many different representations of ‘her.'”
Perhaps different in many ways, but what cannot be ignored on them are precisely those eyes that seem to carry the whole universe.
The Original Intent of Creation
“I enjoy painting figures, especially expressions, eye contact, fingers, etc. I particularly like things related to life, existence, and emotions. I have always believed that this world is filled with imperfections, and those who have been hurt are kinder.”
“I always seek commonalities or connections between different things and then construct new contexts to present. Just like my latest creation, the inspiration came from the movie ‘Poor Things’ and a documentary about mushrooms called ‘Fantastic Fungi’ that I recently watched,” Afa continued, “For example, mushrooms decompose certain things and produce new ones; while in the movie, the female protagonist dies but is rescued and reborn by scientists. The lantern-sleeved blouse worn by Emma Stone in the movie somehow feels similar to mushrooms, so I connected them to explore the theme of life and death.”
Female, instinct, life and death, even ghosts and monsters are common themes in her writing, which are neatly arranged on the bookshelves in her studio. Her favorite book among them is “Journey of the Senses,” a book that deconstructs the origins, development, and natural history of the five senses.
She describes herself as a highly sensitive person, so she is particularly interested in sensory perception and easily influenced by others or the environment. She also jokingly gave an example that the monster character she created was actually drawn from the dark side of human nature.
“Whether it’s erotica or monsters, they are the most hidden primitive desires of human nature. Nowadays, society is bound by too many norms and atmospheres, causing people to lose their uniqueness. I feel that this era requires us to rediscover our original intentions or instincts, to do things or pursue things we truly desire. Therefore, through my own work, I try to express these ideas more.” Afa said.
True to oneself
“I think maintaining curiosity is a key element in keeping passion for life.”
From work to creation, all stems from her curiosity. The phrase “busily busy” is all because she doesn’t want to kill any possibilities. In conversation, she talked about the origin of her painting – influenced by her father since childhood, she liked art creation, but in fact, she never thought of making painting her career. “We are all Hong Kong people, talking about reality. Parents rarely suggest their children to engage in art, not to mention the deeply rooted idea that artists cannot make a living.”
So she also went with the flow, choosing a more stable path, studying practical design, and graduating to work as an art director at an advertising company. Without straying too far from art, everything fell into place, but whenever she saw others’ illustrations, she felt the itch. Three years later, she decided to resign from her full-time job and began her career as an illustrator. Transitioning from a high-paying job to a freelancer may seem impulsive, but it was a decision she pondered over repeatedly, based on numerous experiences, much like her artworks. “Just like the clothes you choose to wear convey the feeling you want to give others, my work embodies the deepest, innermost, and truest self.”
However, upon closer inspection and careful listening, one will notice a contrast between the innocent and cute “Chuan Hua” and her strong, bright appearance. “Normally, people would think that I should match my personal style with my work. But in reality, if I speak a bit more, everyone will notice a bit of my ‘old background,’ so I always try to showcase a more powerful and resilient aura and feeling through my dressing.” Afa continued, “The characters in my drawings do not have fashionable outward appearances or clothing, they only wear simple underwear or swimsuits. I believe that is because they represent my original intentions and inner child, the purest and most naked existence.”
Keep each other company
However, everyone has their own way of interpretation, influenced by subjective perspectives, so it’s difficult for us to understand the author’s true intention through translations, or to truly know the people on stage through performances. Even more so, we may not necessarily fully understand ourselves, let alone expect to be understood by others.
So, Afa sometimes also feels lonely, just like the innocent and lovely “Chuanhua” that actually hides a hint of unmasked depth and melancholy, and behind “Qiqi’s” agility, there is an illusion of eyes that can make people fall into a black hole, “Sometimes feel like drifting too far, as if not belonging anywhere.”
Unexpectedly, her different identities, different facets, are her highlights, but also her weaknesses. “Because I hover on the fringes in different circles, among actors, I don’t truly see myself as one; it’s even more challenging in the art world, where it’s not easy for others to accept me. There might even be gossip, thinking that I’m just playing around.”
Honestly, painting is originally a kind of self-achievement and self-satisfaction. Becoming a professional in this field is not easy, and this aspiration cannot be proven in just a few words or a short time. After several years, she finally won the DFA Hong Kong Young Design Talent Award and various art-related nominations. It seems like there are some achievements she can proudly share with others to show her seriousness about painting, but at this moment, she has changed her mindset. “Actually, there’s no need to tell others, because I enjoy playing different roles, and all of these have enriched my life,” she paused, then explained, “For example, acting in TV series, commercials, or stage performances, all of them are roles given to me by others, it’s passive; only in painting, I can freely express myself, manifesting in my own work, mastering the creation. So, the self during creation is the most comfortable and relaxed state.”
Clarity in both eyes does not necessarily mean clarity about the future, but the unknown is the essence of effort. Even though there has been loneliness and confusion on this journey of dreams, the appearance of “Chuan Hua” feels like adding a companion for her, gaining a soulmate who shares the same tastes, able to accompany each other along the way, walking slowly together. Suddenly, the feeling arises that one is not alone after all.
“Although it may seem like I have many identities, in reality, I have already faded them out, leaving only painting.” Afa said.
Embrace curiosity about the world
And this curiosity not only leads her into different fields, taking on different roles, exploring different worlds, but even her life and studio drift in different places.
Recently, she moved her studio to Tai Hang, and had a different experience. “My previous studio was in an industrial building. Although it was more spacious, there was not much to stimulate my thoughts. Instead, there was always a bustling and crowded atmosphere.” Later, recommended by a friend, after visiting, she fell in love at first sight. “I’ve lived in this area before, but it feels different now. Here, not only is there an artistic atmosphere and a strong sense of community, everyone is harmonious and watchful, it feels magical.”
Different places and environments have influenced your work? She smiled and said that now there is more popularity and liveliness, but also more crisis. Because she often runs into friends in this area, she has less time to paint. After the laughter, she put on a serious expression and said, “In the past, I liked to create with large pre-framed canvases, but now with limited space and having to climb stairs, it’s inconvenient to bring the frame up. Now I can only nail the canvas to the wooden wall to paint, and then mount it in a frame after it’s done.” In the limited space of Hong Kong, it’s truly a situation where you can’t have your cake and eat it too. She continued, “I have discussed with artist friends how regions, climates, and spaces affect the artist’s work. It’s pretty interesting, and I hope to create and share ideas on this theme.“
Watching the sincere interaction between Afa and Chuanhua, it brings to mind a quote by Hong Kong writer Xi Xi: “In the floating city, looking in the mirror cannot provide answers or predict the future. However, being able to understand the past is not necessarily a bad thing; history can serve as a lesson. This is another positive aspect of the existence of mirrors in the floating city.“
Likes dolls, creating dolls, giving a place for the original intention and soul to rest, they also represent a hope, a dream, and countless chapters of Afa.
A flower doesn’t have to compete for beauty, it just needs to bloom freely. Just like this, with every breath and step, let your heart live like a child, continue to grow resiliently!
