Paper-cut artworks offer perspectives on Pittsburgh
-
A detail of Bovey Lee's "Paper Streets," which represent city steps and pathways often found on maps and labeled as streets.
Share with others:
Artist Bovey Lee creates remarkable works of art by infusing the paper cutting tradition of her native Hong Kong with contemporary sensibility. Internationally exhibited, she has also shown extensively locally and in recent years has branched into installation.
"Paper Streets," a solo exhibition comprising installations, continues her exploration of the form while paying homage to her adopted city of 10 years, Pittsburgh. It's at The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust 709 Penn Gallery, Downtown,
The works are based on Ms. Lee's "visual cataloging of the city and its region's topographical complexity," she said by e-mail.
The exhibition title is taken from the "so-called paper streets that are plunging staircases or walkways on maps considered as valid streets in Pittsburgh," such as those that network the South Side Slopes and are featured in the annual Step Trek.
Ms. Lee employs multiple perspectives in the 48-by 116-inch work "Paper Streets," which incorporates rails and overgrowth into a towering staircase.
For "Folding Chairs," inspired by the local use of chairs to reserve parking spaces or spots along a parade route, she hand-cut more than 800 chair shapes reflecting the varieties she's observed on neighborhood streets. These she adhered to the gallery windows where they interplay with the changing daylight and passersby.
"I am interested in folding chairs because of their temporality and portability, providing both physical and psychological comfort for travelers in anticipation of adventures."
The ethereal panels of "Falling Water" bring to mind the falls of the world-famous Frank Lloyd Wright-designed house in the Laurel Highlands east of the city.
Finally, "Smokestacks" reflects Pittsburgh future, its three large black stacks (two 45 inches tall and one 96 inches) no longer emitting smoke but rather consumer goods such as cars, clothing and fitness equipment. The installation is "about survival, one of the on-going themes in my works," Ms. Lee wrote. "Many closed steel plants along the waterfront are reincarnated as retail shops, theaters and restaurants."
Most of the works will travel to Japan in July to appear in a group exhibition at a new museum outside of Tokyo dedicated to cut paper art. It is the first exhibition in Japan featuring international cut paper artists, Ms. Lee wrote. The museum is going on with the exhibition because it's not in the area that is recovering from the earthquake and tsunami.
"They also believe that art is a powerful healing tool and hope the show can help lift the spirit of the people in Japan," she said.
"Paper Streets" continues at 709 Penn Ave. through May 22. Hours are 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday; 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Friday and Saturday; 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday. Admission is free. For more on Ms. Lee's work, visit www.boveylee.com.
First Published May 11, 2011 12:00 am
