Rozana Lee

Rozana Lee
Born	1970 Banda Aceh, Indonesia
Nationality	New Zealand
Alma mater	University of Auckland
Known for	textiles and painting
Style	Patterns

Rozana Lee (born 1970) is a New Zealand artist of Chinese Indonesian descent, notable for her use of textiles.

Early life and family

Lee is a fourth generation Chinese Indonesian, She fled Jakarta to Singapore at a time ethnic Chinese were being severely persecuted throughout Indonesia. ^[1] Lee never felt belong in Indonesia. ^[2]

During the Boxing Day Tsunami, Lee lost her mother Rosna, her relatives, childhood friends and family home in Aceh, Indonesia. Lee's father Karimun survived the tsunami. ^[3]

Art career

Lee's father and grandfather had a fabric shop in Aceh, Lee grew up with fabrics, with many patterns and colours and they always had plenty of excess of fabric. the shop was destroyed during the Boxing Day Tsunami ^{[2] [4]}

Her artistic journey reflects cultural connections across Central and South East Asia, Pacific Ocean, and Central America. By using Indonesian Batik textiles, Lee investigates how cultures evolve through the interactions and exchanges with other cultures and by holding onto their own traditions. Her work resonates with her personal experiences of prejudice and highlights the dynamic nature of culture, especially in trading ports where diverse influences come together. This exploration not only showcases the patterns and symbols of these cultures but also underscores the stories behind them and the relationships that shape them. ^{[3] [5]}

Lee's research examines how patterns convey historical and aesthetic knowledge of specific cultures, while also serving as a link between generations, diverse cultures and countries through various means, including early migration, the introduction of religion, international trade, colonisation and cross-cultural exchanges. ^[2] She makes the patterns with the beeswax, and the tools, the tie-dye all have historical significance. ^[6]

Her work are held in many private collections overseas and in New Zealand, including the Art House Trust ^[7] and Govett-Brewster Art Gallery, ^[8] Christchurch Art Gallery. ^[9]

Residencies

• 2024: Redbase, Sydney, Australia ^[10]
• 2024: Studio Kura, Fukuoka, Japan ^[11]
• 2024: Leibniz Institute for Regional Geography, Leipzig, Germany ^[12]
• 2023: The Zhelezka Project, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Kyrgyzstan ^[13]
• 2019: Making Space, Guangzhou, China ^[14]
• 2016: Instinc Gallery, Singapore ^[14]

Selected solo exhibitions

• 2024: Spring is as sweet as shirotsumekusa, Studio Kura, Fukuoka, Japan ^[11]
• 2024: Windows to the world, Corban Estate Arts Centre, Auckland, New Zealand ^[15]
• 2023: Sekali pendatang, tetap pendatang, Te Uru Waitākere Contemporary Gallery, Auckland, New Zealand ^[16]
• 2022: A Way of Being Free, Northart Gallery, Auckland, New Zealand ^[17]
• 2021: Birds from Another Continent, Papakura Art Gallery, Auckland, New Zealand ^[18]

Selected group exhibitions

• 2024: Horizon 2, Bergman Gallery, Auckland, New Zealand ^[19]
• 2023: Belonging: Stories of Contemporary New Zealand Asian Artists, Bergman Gallery, Auckland, New Zealand ^[20]
• 2023: 胎息, Tai Xi (That birth breath), TuiTui, Auckland, New Zealand ^[21]
• 2022: Several degrees of attention, Govett-Brewster Art Gallery, New Plymouth, New Zealand ^[22]
• 2022: Fluid Borders: Far Nearer, The Pah Homestead, Auckland, New Zealand ^[23]

References

1. "Rozana Lee | Satellites Archive". www.satellites.co.nz. Retrieved 2024-12-19.
2. Winder, Virginia (2019-08-16). "Tactile Histories: Fabrics telling stories". stuff. Retrieved 2024-12-19.
3. Amery, Mark (2024-03-28). "Travelling through Asian and Pasifika cultures in batik with Rozana Lee". Radio New Zealand. Retrieved 2024-12-18.
4. "House Visits: Connecting Cultures". thebigidea.nz. Retrieved 2024-12-19.
5. "Home is Anywhere in the World". Art New Zealand (Summer 2020-2021): 42.
6. Matila-Smith, Natasha Matila-Smith. "The Unmissables: Three Exhibitions to See in July". Pantograph Punch. Retrieved 2024-12-19.
7. "LEE, Rozana". The Arts House Trust. Retrieved 2024-12-19.
8. "Public Relations | Govett-Brewster Art Gallery | Len Lye Centre". govettbrewster.com. Retrieved 2024-12-19.
9. "Adzan". christchurchartgallery.org.nz. Retrieved 2024-12-19.
10. Space, REDBASE Art. "REDBASE Art Space: Rozana Lee". gallery.redbaseart.com. Retrieved 2024-12-19.
11. "Rozana Lee, Studio Kura residency | Contemporary Hum". contemporaryhum.com. Retrieved 2024-12-19.
12. "Rozana Lee, Visiting Fellows Programme | Contemporary Hum". contemporaryhum.com. Retrieved 2024-12-19.
13. "Rozana Lee, The Zhelezka Project | Contemporary Hum". contemporaryhum.com. Retrieved 2024-12-19.
14. eloise (2020-11-24). "ROZANA LEE | Aotearoa Art Fair" . Retrieved 2024-12-19.
15. "Windows to the World | Corban Estate Arts Centre". ceac.org.nz. Retrieved 2024-12-19.
16. "Rozana Lee: Sekali pendatang, tetap pendatang". Artnow. Retrieved 2024-12-19.
17. "Exhibition: Rozana Lee | A Way of Being Free - Auckland - Eventfinda". www.eventfinda.co.nz. Retrieved 2024-12-19.
18. Weng, Amy (2022-07-09). "This hand that is every stone" (PDF). Govett-Brewster Art Gallery. Retrieved 2024-12-19.
19. "Horizon 2". Art News Aotearoa. 2024-09-04. Retrieved 2024-12-19.
20. "Belonging: Stories of Contemporary New Zealand Asian Artists". Art News Aotearoa. 2024-08-07. Retrieved 2024-12-19.
21. "胎息 TaiXi, that birth breath". Art News Aotearoa. 2023-10-19. Retrieved 2024-12-19.
22. "Several degrees of attention". Artnow. Retrieved 2024-12-19.
23. ""Fluid Borders" + Tori Clearwater, Wallace Arts Centre | Artsdiary 3366". www.artsdiary.co.nz. Retrieved 2024-12-19.