SEPT 13 – OCT 11

The work of Chicagoan Li Lin Lee and New Yorker David Servoss will be on display at the Walsh Gallery this Fall. Mr. Lee, will be revealing his latest paintings. Mr. Servoss, formerly of Chicago is debuting his latest installation entitled “Armistice.” Mr. Lee and Mr. Servoss will be on hand at the opening reception at Walsh Gallery, Friday, September 13 from 5–9pm. The show will run through October 11.


Galleries I, II, III, IV : Li Lin Lee, Barbie Meets the Talismans, painting

Talismans from Polynesia and Easter Island, Mandela's from Tibetan Buddhism, and the world of Barbie’s and other girl toys, all find their way into the color saturated fields of Li Lin Lee’s newest paintings. Mr. Lee prides himself on the fact that his fields and grounds simultaneously seem to sway back and forth. Looking at his new work is reminiscent of a trip through the space that “the yellow submarine” traversed. Mr. Lee described his new painting as “oceanic and magical.” These oil paintings show no brush strokes. Mr. Lee has only used a palette knife combining six colors together, mixing them once, and then spreading them on his canvases. The effect is often startling. Field and ground seem to merge and flip-flop. Doubled forms are stenciled over the grounds. It is these forms that alternate between mythological icons and “groovy girls.”

Mr. Lee’s paintings have attracted the attention of collectors and critics nationwide. Major museums, such as the Art Institute of Chicago, the Denver Museum of Fine Art and the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, have collected Mr. Lee’s paintings. His works are also in the public and/or private collections of Ameritech, Philip Morris, the Hallmark Collection, among others.


Gallery I : David Servoss, Armistice, installation

Native Chicagoan turned New Yorker, Servoss comes back to debut his installation about surrendering to history and exploring the ties of our blood. Central to this installation are two life–size busts, one of the first president of the Republic of China, Yuan Shi Kai and the other of United States President James Monroe. However, these busts have the artist’s face superimposed over them. Mr. Servoss is directly related to both of these figures and his existence represents a meeting point between them. The busts will be standing on metal spikes which pierce a molded knot created from resin and the artist’s own blood. The busts will be surrounded by 3,000 concrete army figurines. Some of these soldiers are surrendering while others hold a sling with a stone in it. This is Mr. Servoss’ personal army symbolically surrendering to the two parts of his lineage. The installation is further capped off by a shear scrim of white silk which is printed the first Republic Chinese flag and the American flag. The scrim creates a ghost like glow that frames the installation making it feel shrine–like. Yuan Shi Kai was a warlord most famous for his series of betrayals including the Manchu’s as well as the revolutionaries. To Mr. Servoss, Yuan represents an “image of immigration” since his descendants live in America. Meanwhile, James Monroe is a symbol of American history.

Mr. Servoss visited James Monroe’s grave, and video–taped himself in period clothing guarding the grave. As tourists would approach, Mr. Servoss would tell them “you can not be there” and film their reverent departures. Mr. Servoss said, “Yuan Shi Kai had a very turbulent existence by contrast President James Monroe had a charmed life.” Monroe’s Presidential term was during an “era of good feeling, 1817–1825.” It was a very peaceful time in American history.

Mr. Servoss was selected to show his work in 2001 at the Renaissance Society and has also shown in Santa Fe and New York.