Singaporean artist Justin Lee jetted into Bangkok last week to walk around the luxury shopping mall Gaysorn Plaza. After all, its exterior is currently decorated with his artwork.

His colourful creation, illuminated at night, is designed to celebrate the coming annual festive event "Pure Reward" and can be ogled by the thousands who pass the Rajaprasong intersection every day.

Lee offers a new take on pop art to Bangkokians, who, for the most past, are unfamiliar with his work.

And while the majority of artists spend much of their time in a fantasy world, Lee cheerfully confesses that he was in the army for seven years "doing military things like making bombs.

"It wasn't a life that suited me, though," he adds. "But it did teach me discipline."

After leaving the army, he worked as a graphic designer for almost six years, but found it unsatisfying. He then decided to turn his hobby - painting - into a career and signed up for a programme at Singapore's Nanyang Academy of Fine Art.

Lee's been an active artist since 1996, and has participated in several competitions, including the UOB Painting of the Year and Philip Morris Art Awards.

In 1999, after earning his diploma, he trained at the Tyler Print Workshop in New York and did print art with well-known artists Frank Stella and Ken Tyler.

"I knew I wanted to be an artist, rather than work under someone else. For me, print work is too precise, so I shifted to painting," he says.

Art lovers in Singapore know Lee. Recognising his talent, the National Art Council funded his first solo exhibition "Double Happiness, A Fantasy in Red" in 2003.

His video installation was shown at the Venice Biennale 2004 and in July Lee exhibited his art in Tokyo.

His works tend to focus on cultural and social issues.

"It's all about the connections of people in my society. They can be related to lifestyle, communication or confusion, as they struggle with cultural identity," he explains.

As he walks along Bangkok's streets, Lee quietly observes the crowds.

"They are part of the same society, yet they are all strangers to each other. I love to watch them, see what they do, how they dress, whether they dress to be happy or not, look at the commercial icons on their attire," he says

"I play around with these modern people in my work, but not in a critical way."

In many of his works, Lee reflects on the concept of East meets West, explaining that when two different cultures are put together, it always creates tension.

"Perhaps people can feel it through my art, but I leave it to viewers to interpret whether it's good or bad."

His recent art has involved decorating a hotel, a hospital, a tunnel at the Esplanade in Singapore, and now a bustling junction in Bangkok.

"This is a good space to introduce myself, as well as to connect with people. Hopefully they enjoy looking at it."

For Gaysorn's "Pure Reward" event, Lee has chosen Chinese paper cuttings, an art form that dates back 2,000 years, as the main material for his creation.

These paper cuttings are used by the Chinese to celebrate many important occasions and to decorate walls, windows, doors, columns, mirrors, lamps and lanterns as well as presents. They have special significance at festivals and on holidays.

"I am not trying to express the culture of the East but to show the harmony of the arts," Lee says, pointing out the modern icons he has added, which include handbags, deer and flowers.

Justin hopes Thais will understand his alternative interpretation.

"The oriental symbols might be familiar and I think people will know they belong to the overall festive mood."

To Lee, the collage represents harmony during the season of goodwill.

Inside the building, huge balloons hang from the ceiling next to the Christmas tree. Lee has played with red to contrast with the white inside the department store.

"Bright colours represent my freedom to express myself. It is all about an expression of confidence and relating to people".

As an artist, he admits he thought hard about becoming involved in such a blatantly commercial venture but says he feels it offers a good opportunity to find new and different audiences for his work.

"I believe openness and honesty in what I do will lead me to walk a long way in the art world."

Vipasai Niyamabha

The Nation