Sophia Lee

i feel as if i\\\'ve come full circle in many ways, and all those influences in life and studies have sprouted and become something tangible in my art. the name of my paintings and inks on paper style is heavily influenced in Arabesque.

Arabesque is the anti-square, the non-Cartesian,

the irrational, the unpredictable.

It has no edges, no corners, like

a stream of water, it encompasses everything,

it surpasses all obstacles. Feminine in its

shape, gentle in its touch, its warm and

ensuring curves are no less a constant

source of surprises! Where will the lines lead you? To the irrational, the world of imagination, to the non-Cartesian, the world of dreams. This series is no more but a contemplation and reflection of the self and viewer. i hope the viewer will have the chance to c beyond what appears to be decorative dancing lines into a deeper reflection of beauty and contemplation.

i was born in taipei, taiwan; then at an early age,

my family immigrated to the United States

(southern Cal). growing up, we\\\\\'d always return to taiwan during the summers, continuing our education in chinese language. during this time, i\\\'m fascinated by chinese art, history, and culture. living between 2 cultures has influeced

me a great deal, even though at times, it has been very conflicting to be either 1. often asked which am i, chinese or american? these days, to me, i?m both. i no longer feel the need to separate out the 2 identities. i can switch easily between the 2, combining it to my own.

growing up, i\\\'ve always drew, painted,

and designed many imaginary

interiors and costumes for

imaginary characters. i

began my formal training

in college, studying

fashion design first, then moving into painting and computer graphics. i spent 6 years in nyc as book cover designer and returned to painting when i left and began traveling around to different parts of the world. as i settled into portland, oregon, i feel another shift in my life and am ready to share my work.