Rodrigo Maltez-Novaes
23 January 2002

Nikki Lee is an international contemporary artist. Korean born and New York based, Lee is an artist who challenges notions of national and cultural identity. Her work is photography based, and is structured as essay 'projects', that are studies of distinctively individual social groups, and the visual language of their identity. By including herself in all of the photographs, she depicts herself as part of the group, or one of the gang.

The images are all taken as snapshots, which gives the work a look of immediacy, and which validates the impression of it being a true moment. In her own words, Lee explains : "I use a snapshot camera because anyone can take a picture, in this way, it doesn't matter who is pressing the button; sometimes I take a friend with me to take the photographs, and sometimes I just ask a bystander, because I think it really doesn't matter who's behind the camera. My work is not about the photograph, but the subjects that I work with, and by involving them in the process of creation of the work, they are also given their space and their chance to have a say in the way they are portrayed."

Lee is an extensive researcher, before each project she decides on the subject and carries an in-depth research into their lives and the symbols which they use in order to establish, define and communicate their identity to the world. She does not see herself as either a chameleon, trying to camouflage herself into a group of unsuspecting strangers, or indeed as an under cover spy, trying to infiltrate enemy camp to expose their secrets. Lee is always open about her intentions, and her subjects are just as much a part of the creative process as she is. " I always introduce myself as an artist. When I am researching for a project, I tell people what I'm doing, so that they are aware of the outcome. I don't sneak around snapping unsuspecting bystanders, for the projects to work, there has to be an element of trust, and I can only achieve that by being honest with my subjects, and by allowing them to have an input."

When I asked her about the intentions behind her work, Lee said that "My work is about group identity and how individuals find their own personal identity within these groups. My research is also driven by examining how I can establish a relationship with these different types of people. And I don't think that this affects my own identity, but its hard to say, I don't think that there are clear cut boundaries, identity is about symbiosis, and so I know that my own identity has an effect on the subjects that I photograph, but I don't see this as a problem, it's just part of the work. I'm just trying to understand them." In the course of her career, Lee has met many people through her projects, but she maintains that she is primarily an artist, and that her involvement with her subjects is mostly professional, and that it is this approach that ensures the objectivity of the work.

For her next project, Lee is researching school girls in uniforms, but she also confesses that her work is evolving, however, that is still uncharted territory, so she would not like to commit to any specific direction at this stage. Lee exhibits internationally, and is already building a reputation as a contemporary artist to watch out for.

Related links: http://www.tonkonow.com/lee.html

This article has been reprinted with the permission of © Boiler Magazine. Special thanks to Ivan Maria Vele.