The long, lonely road to recognition
After two decades of struggle, acclaimed performance artist Lee Wen finally gets his day in the sun - his first commercial solo, writes HELMI YUSOF
'%3e%3cpath%20d='M20.7725%2026.9924C20.9555%2026.9924%2021.1297%2026.953%2021.2951%2026.8741C21.4604%2026.7953%2021.6346%2026.6694%2021.8177%2026.4965L27.8373%2020.8125C27.9848%2020.6752%2028.0865%2020.5353%2028.1425%2020.3929C28.1985%2020.2505%2028.2264%2020.1183%2028.2264%2019.9962C28.2264%2019.869%2028.1985%2019.7343%2028.1425%2019.5918C28.0865%2019.4494%2027.9848%2019.3095%2027.8373%2019.1722L21.8177%2013.5417C21.6142%2013.3484%2021.4375%2013.2098%2021.2875%2013.1259C21.1374%2013.042%2020.9708%2013%2020.7877%2013C20.5181%2013%2020.2981%2013.0916%2020.1278%2013.2747C19.9574%2013.4578%2019.8722%2013.6765%2019.8722%2013.9308V16.8147H19.6509C18.2827%2016.8147%2017.1014%2017.0258%2016.107%2017.448C15.1127%2017.8701%2014.2963%2018.4805%2013.658%2019.279C13.0197%2020.0776%2012.5466%2021.0402%2012.2389%2022.1668C11.9312%2023.2934%2011.7773%2024.5612%2011.7773%2025.9701C11.7773%2026.3006%2011.8575%2026.5537%2012.0177%2026.7291C12.1779%2026.9047%2012.3597%2026.9924%2012.5632%2026.9924C12.7259%2026.9924%2012.89%2026.9593%2013.0553%2026.8932C13.2206%2026.8271%2013.3693%2026.6719%2013.5016%2026.4278C13.9441%2025.5936%2014.4553%2024.9413%2015.0351%2024.4708C15.6149%2024.0004%2016.2838%2023.6685%2017.0417%2023.4752C17.7995%2023.2819%2018.6693%2023.1853%2019.6509%2023.1853H19.8722V26.0998C19.8722%2026.3591%2019.9574%2026.5728%2020.1278%2026.7406C20.2981%2026.9085%2020.513%2026.9924%2020.7725%2026.9924Z'%20fill='black'%20fill-opacity='0.85'/%3e%3c/g%3e%3crect%20x='0.5'%20y='0.5'%20width='39'%20height='39'%20rx='19.5'%20stroke='%23F2F2F2'/%3e%3cdefs%3e%3cclipPath%20id='clip0_715_28555'%3e%3crect%20width='16.4491'%20height='14'%20fill='white'%20transform='translate(11.7773%2013)'/%3e%3c/clipPath%3e%3c/defs%3e%3c/svg%3e){kind=small}
LEE Wen picks up his guitar, fixes a harmonica brace around his neck, and makes up a song. He sings a blues number about life and the obstacles he's faced. His hunched body, racked by scoliosis, sways back and forth.
Despite his debilitating illnesses - he has Parkinson's and scoliosis which impair his spine and movements - the 57-year-old artist and Cultural Medallion recipient has something to celebrate.
Next week marks the debut of his first ever solo show organised by a commercial gallery, and it will take place at a platform no less prestigious than Art Basel Hon…
'/%3e%3cpath%20d='M35.1847%2014.0422L9.37867%2024.1703C8.88772%2024.363%208.86989%2025.051%209.35015%2025.2688L15.0551%2027.8567C15.2097%2027.9269%2015.327%2028.0594%2015.3778%2028.2212L17.8255%2036.0078C17.9491%2036.4009%2018.4247%2036.5534%2018.7539%2036.3054L23.0143%2033.0968C23.2178%2032.9435%2023.4961%2032.9364%2023.7072%2033.0787L30.8526%2037.8975C31.2091%2038.1378%2031.6951%2037.9339%2031.7732%2037.5114L35.9896%2014.7059C36.0747%2014.2456%2035.6206%2013.8712%2035.1847%2014.0422Z'%20fill='%23FDFEFF'/%3e%3cpath%20d='M15.3125%2027.9998L30.4162%2018.627L19.3691%2029.3628L19.548%2033.3966L18.9531%2036.1248C18.3783%2036.7236%2017.9297%2036.2772%2017.8477%2036.0662L15.3681%2028.178L15.2734%2028.0233L15.3125%2027.9998Z'%20fill='%23C8DAEA'/%3e%3cpath%20d='M18.3594%2036.4259L19.3511%2029.3447L23.519%2032.9856C23.303%2032.9612%2023.1588%2032.9863%2023.0268%2033.0859L19.0712%2036.0718C18.6289%2036.4572%2018.4297%2036.4455%2018.3594%2036.4259Z'%20fill='%23A9C9DD'/%3e%3cdefs%3e%3clinearGradient%20id='paint0_linear'%20x1='33'%20y1='7.5'%20x2='19'%20y2='36.5'%20gradientUnits='userSpaceOnUse'%3e%3cstop%20stop-color='%231E96C8'/%3e%3cstop%20offset='1'%20stop-color='%2337AEE2'%20stop-opacity='0'/%3e%3c/linearGradient%3e%3c/defs%3e%3c/svg%3e)
BT is now on Telegram!
For daily updates on weekdays and specially selected content for the weekend. Subscribe to t.me/BizTimes
Lifestyle
Former Zouk morphs into mod-Asian Jiak Kim House, serving laksa pasta and mushroom bak kut teh
Massimo Bottura lends star power to pizza and pasta at Torno Subito
Victor Liong pairs Aussie and Asian food with mixed results at Artyzen’s Quenino restaurant
If Jay Chou likes Ju Xing’s zi char, you might too
Mod-Sin cooking izakaya style at Focal
What the fish? Diving for flavour at Fysh – Aussie chef Josh Niland’s Singapore debut
