Lii Jiin Shiow once said: “In a transparent space, my existence should also be transparent and free.” From the 1990s onward, the interior space of her home became the main theme of her work. From early self-portraits to later depictions of domestic interiors, the artist gradually shifted her focus from figures and personal changes to objects and space. With most of her life dedicated to her family, Lii painted within the confined space of her home. The gray tones in her work evoke a sense of obscurity and boundlessness, conveying feelings of transparency and ease. In this painting, a brightly colored “chair” becomes a symbol of self-expression, which ultimately represents a free and roaming existence, and forms an alternative “self-portrait.”
Lii Jiin Shiow
Memory of Space and Time (alone)
1993
Acrylic on cardboard
79 x 54 cm
Courtesy of the artist's family
