Mau Ki Margaret Lee
- Hong Kong
Dr. Margaret Lee is a Hong Kong artist, designer, and entrepreneur known for her collage pieces that reflect cultural beauty and intricacy. Her art is seen as being elegant, high-end, and reminiscent of Victorian design.
Margaret left Hong Kong during her teens to study art at Parsons. Her adeptness in a variety of fields and mature taste caught the attention of many, and she was later recruited by Washington University in St. Louis where she received her bachelor in fine arts. She returned to Hong Kong in 1994.
In 2001, she prepared to pursue her career as an artist. Her early works centred around her personal life including charcoal still-lives and portraits, which were created to convey her emotional attachment to each subject.
Later on she began experimenting with collages and oil paint, developing her own style in the process. Her pieces drew inspiration from her most memorable moments, often focusing on specific settings and the culture of the surrounding country. In 2008, she became the first Asian artist to set up a solo exhibition in the Holfberg Palace, Vienna. After the success of the exhibition, she was invited to the VII Florence Biennale. These two experiences reinvigorated her passion for art, driving her to pursue her studies further. In the span of six years she earned a masters in Literature and Cultural Studies and a doctorate in philosophy.
Her studies in philosophy reminded her that the leading thinkers throughout history have created their best works later in life, as a culmination of their work and experiences.
In 2015, she established MARET Fine Jewellery. To her, MARET represents her life's work. Each piece of jewellery is a, "condensed collage." She sees each piece not only as something that enhances beauty but also as a mechanical object and everyday appliance. Each piece is engineered with ingenious craftsmanship to aline with the body's movement. Many of them are specific tools such as a watch strap, reading glasses, and magnifying glass. This multi-faceted approach makes each MARET piece purposeful and unique.
Her hope is that when she looks back on her life one day that she will be satisfied, knowing that each day has amounted to something beautiful.
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