Reflections on life, death and solitude

MAYBE it was because he was alone in Berlin in the middle of a harsh winter, but when artist Michael Lee heard of an army mate who died alone at home in Singapore, that got him thinking about death and solitude.

For his exhibition at the end of the year-long residency at Kunstlerhaus Bethanien, Lee made a video "obituary" of 45 places where people have died alone, or were last seen alone. "The theme centred on solitude," he explains. He includes this video as part of his new solo exhibition at Yavuz Fine Art, titled Machine for (Living) Dying In, where the overall aim is to look into the notion of Home as well as the uncertainties surrounding its concept.

Home is as specific as the 20th place of residence he's stayed at in Singapore. Or it could be the sense of comfort one might find in less homey places, like public spaces you encounter on your travels. "Home doesn't have to be defined in a physical way," he notes.