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L e e M a n S a n g 李 文 生
Lee Man Sang was born in a small Hakka village in the New Territories of Hong Kong. At the age of 14 he moved to England, where he worked in his family's restaurant and studied modern art. In 1992, Lee returned to Hong Kong and set up an art studio in a 300-year-old schoolhouse in his native village. He works primarily as a sculptor, using wood and other natural materials to create both formalist and functional art, including musical instruments of his own invention. Many of his recent sculptural works incorporate concepts derived from traditional Chinese culture, such as the logographic form of Chinese characters. Lee is also active as a performance artist and improvisational musician, collaborating with Hong Kong artists working in various media to create performance events.
At once a master craftsman, musician and sculptor, Lee lives a reclusive life in the rural part of Hong Kong and his art reflects his love of nature and rhythm with strong solitary sentiment. Lee's sculptures combine traditional function of the Chinese seal and the beautiful natural texture of timber wood. They are carved with precision to illustrate rivers and farmlands that surround his home. In the recent years Lee has been focusing on assembling and working with found materials and artefacts from his ancestral village and creating hand-made objects and instruments. Lee Man Sang's works have the quality of a sophisticated craft though it is his profound concept and subtlety that distinguish him as a sculptor from his contemporaries.
Education and background
1994
Established studio as annex to the 300 yr. old school / heritage museum, Wo Hang Village, HK
1992
Returned to live permanently in Wo Hang Village, New Territories, Hong Kong
1985-1991
Managed parents Restaurant, England, whilst studying contemporary European art
1977-1985
Tamworth Secondary School and College, Birmingham, England
1976
Moved to England
1962
Born in Wo Hang Village, New Territories, Hong Kong
Exhibitions/ Performance
2008-2009
"from 2D to 3D", Sin Sin Fine Art, Hong Kong
"Looking for Antonio Mak", Hong Kong Museum of Art, Hong Kong
2000
G.C.C. 5th International Group Show, Osaka World Trade Center, Japan
Solo Sculpture Show – Timber Works II, The Pottery Workshop, Hong Kong
1999
Group Show of 3 Artists, Galerie Martini, Hong Kong
1998
Anne Mei Chadwick Gallery, London (Group Show) – 'Visions from Hong Kong'
1997-1998
Group Show, Galerie Martini, Hong Kong – 'salon d’hiver 1&2'
1997
G.C.C. 2nd International Group Show, La Grande Arche, La Defense, Paris
The Pottery Workshop – 'Chops + Clay'
Wo Hang Village, 300 yr. old school and surrounding garden – 'Raw Earth' (Part 2)
Pao Gallery, Hong Kong Arts Centre – 'Raw Earth' (Part 1)
The Pottery Workshop – 'Timber Works'
1994
Fringe Club, Hong Kong – 'In the Attic'
1993
The Pottery Workshop, Fringe Club, Hong Kong – 'Just a Family Affair'
1990
Quot Gallery, Hong Kong – 'Tianamen Square'
Commissions
1999
Sculpture with Chinese characters for reception area of Virtual Communities office, Melbourne
Sculpture with Co. Logo and stand for reception area of Chiaphua International, HK
1998
Set of 10 no. timber chop sculptures for Star Alliance Lounge, Chek Lap Kok Airport
Scultpural relief wall panel for Virgin Atlantic’s Clubhouse Lounge, Chek Lap Kok Airport
1996
Set of 14 no. timber chops / sculptures procured by RSD for the Regional Council Museum, HK
1995-1998
Sculptural props / musical instruments for performances by Peter Suart at HKAPA
1995
Eight sculptural pedestals for bird house exhibition by Jacqueline Li, The Pottery Workshop, HK
1994
Suspended installation art for Isshin Japanese Restaurant, Times Square, HK
1993
Suspended 'Lantern' Sculptures for Duty Free Shop, The Peak, HK
Poster and catalogue designs for Contemporary City Dance Company performances, HK
1993-1999
Private collections in Hong Kong, Tokyo, London, Italy, Australia and Thailand
Performance Art
1999
'Festival Der Geister' (Spirit and Ghost Festival), Tacheles in Berlin, Germany as a member of the new improvisation band, FUBAR
1997
Collaboration of five Artists of a new ethnic, ritual village music and dance, HK
1996
Multi-media performance – group of five Hakka Artists sculptor, ceramist, dancer, vocalist, musician) – 'Raw Earth', Hong Kong Arts Centre, and Wo Hang Village
1990-1994
Crafting and performing the traditional Hakka arts of both Unicorn Dancing and Hot Air Balloons – at various cultural festivals, celebrations and ceremonies, Hong Kong
1994
Group concert performed with mixed percussion and wind instruments crafted by Lee Man Sang, Fringe Club
Background soundtrack to ‘Hong Kong Life and Culture’ television programme – hand crafted flutes
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