He lost 20 paintings to the flood, but Mark Lee's not giving up
MALAYSIANSKINI | Mark Lee is one of those rare people you encounter in life. He wears many different hats and he wears them all well.
As a filmmaker, Lee is known for thought-provoking films such as ‘At Rainbow’s End’ that touches on the lives of those living with HIV. He followed this up with ‘At Rainbow’s End II’, which focuses on stateless youths struggling with HIV and AIDS.
He has even produced a short film called...
MALAYSIANSKINI | Mark Lee is one of those rare people you encounter in life. He wears many different hats and he wears them all well.
As a filmmaker, Lee is known for thought-provoking films such as ‘At Rainbow’s End’ that touches on the lives of those living with HIV. He followed this up with ‘At Rainbow’s End II’, which focuses on stateless youths struggling with HIV and AIDS.
He has even directed and produced short films such as a teenage love story called 'Eraser' and also documentaries such as ‘Mr Garbage’ that features a man who is determined to clean up all the garbage thrown into the waters of Pulau Ketam.
WATCH: Mark Lee's short film Eraser
Well known in the ad film world, Lee has also made numerous commercials for major corporations.
His filmmaking journey started when he and his friends would shoot short films and advertising campaigns as part of his school assignment. Lee discovered a love for visual storytelling.
“I have directed numerous commercials. I do enjoy non-fiction storytelling as well as documentaries. What inspires me are great stories, no matter if it is fiction or not. Utilizing my skills to create a positive change in the people and environment is essential.
"Social issues are quite a major part of my journey. I always promote love and forgiveness, challenges and ways to ease frictions between different races and cultural backgrounds.
"A good example is 'Eraser', which will be turned into a feature-length film (shooting starts in Feb) based on the award-winning short film I made seven years ago," he told Malaysiakini.
On top of his talent as a filmmaker and visual artist, Lee is an environmentalist and is currently pursuing his PhD studies in forestry science with University Putra Malaysia.
It would be fair to say that Lee is a very artistic and passionate man. Maybe that is why he is making an impact as a visual artist.
A form of escapism
His painting style is described as contemporary and abstract expressionism and after his first solo exhibition "Her" (2017), Lee is slowly making a name for himself in a field that began as a form of escapism.
As many struggled during the early days of the pandemic, Lee was busy at work with his paintings. He was even commissioned to give his personal touch on an iconic Johnny Walker statue.
However, the recent floods that hit Selangor, affected Lee as well. His office in Kampung Bukit Lanchong was hit.
Despite the interview appointment being made before the floods, Lee was willing to go ahead and talk about his work and experiences at a time when he was busy cleaning up after the devastation.
“When everything is gone, it is gone. I just have to start working on some new stuff. I have to pack up and just continue with life,” said Lee in a matter-of-fact tone.
He managed to move whatever he could salvage to the first floor. However, his entire collection of paintings that he was getting ready for an exhibition in the third quarter of 2022 is gone.
At the time of the floods, Lee was elsewhere shooting a commercial. Unlike most filmmakers who shout from the rooftops about their work, Lee tends to just let his work speak for him.
“I do keep a low profile but I am very active in the industry.”
He has just finished a rebranding ad for a major company and has another job lined up.
“I will be starting on a new movie after Chinese New Year. I have a lot of upcoming work in 2022,” said Lee.
For him, it is critical to find a balance between filmmaking and visual art.
“As you know, the entertainment industry is very hectic, you have to deal with a lot of people. Every day is not candies and pies. Some days can be really nightmarish, especially when you deal with clients.
“Art is like therapy, an escape. I am not a very sociable person. With art, you are speaking to the canvas. You are facing yourself, you are the person who is going to be reflected on the canvas.
“In the film industry, you have to do things to make everyone happy. You have to follow instructions. There are a lot of protocols and stuff like that,” he said.
A pick-me-up
Painting is also Lee’s way of coping with depression.
“It was something I picked up naturally. I started doodling in my childhood days, mum has always wanted me to pursue an art career but being a stubborn teen I wanted to try law school but went back to do advertising in an art school anyway."
"I had never painted for my own pleasure until I picked up my brushes six or seven years ago. In the beginning, it was a form of healing but eventually, it gave me a second career as an artist."
When asked what inspires his artwork, Lee said, "My paintings are inspired by nature. I apply the philosophy of past, present and future, indicating them in thick textures (past), present (free flow of paint) and the future (the space on the canvas)."
"I do landscape (figurative) most times but I do abstract as well. It all depends on my state at that particular moment."
“For film work, I do commercials which pay well. Other production houses hire me to do work for them. That is my rice bowl. It pays enough for me to do my hobby which is art.”
Somehow his hobby turned into a profession.
“It is important not to think about sales before you master your skills and be truthful to yourself. When you post your work on social media, it will grab people’s attention. Buyers will come in naturally."
In late 2021, he was commissioned to give his interpretation to the iconic The Striding Man statue that was the logo of Johnny Walker whisky. His work was then auctioned off.
“For me, It is important to be true to your work and whatever craft you enjoy and not think about sales. Things will come naturally if you work hard enough.”
It can't be easy therefore to brush off the devastation of his office that housed his recent paintings.
“I am rarely there because for filming you have to go all over the place. These days we tend to do pre-production meetings online. Sometimes we are at the agency or the client’s place.
“I am not a city person. So Kampung Bukit Lanchong is the best place for me. The back was the river.”
Lee used to live at the back of his office, in what he described as a single-storey hut. That place is now gone after water levels went up to 12 feet (3.65m) and covered the roof.
“I had over 20 paintings that I prepared for my solo exhibition in 2022. Now it is back to zero. The exhibition was supposed to be held in the third quarter of 2022.”
Despite the organiser being understanding of his situation and giving him more time, Lee is determined to meet the deadline. “This is the time of the year that people have the budget to spend on art,” Lee explained.
As much as it hurts, Lee is taking it all in stride.
“It is heartbreaking, a total loss. I just need to pack up my emotions and start again. My next series will probably be much better. It is a journey. I can’t stay in one place, stay broken. I need to start immediately on something else.”
MALAYSIANSKINI is a series on Malaysians you should know.
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Standing up to defend Penang’s fishing community
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