Dr. Irene S. M. Lee obtained her Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Architecture degrees at the National University of Singapore, Master of Architecture in Urban Design at Cornell University (where she minored in Fine Arts & Art History), and Doctorate at Harvard University.
Subsequently, she was awarded postdoctoral fellowships at the United Nations University in Tokyo, Japan, at Tokyo Medical and Dental University, and at Heidelberg University, Germany. In the eighties, Dr. Lee studied Chinese brush painting under Master Fan Chang Tien's students, Nai Swee Leng and Lee Soo Chee. Subsequently, she studied Japanese calligraphy while in Tokyo, and Chinese calligraphy under Phang Weng Kiong in Singapore. She is an award-winning artist both locally and internationally, and has participated in many competitions and exhibitions including solo exhibitions in Singapore, New York and Europe. In 2021, she received the Gold Award in The 24th World Calligraphy Grand Exhibition. Her works are in museums, international corporations and private collections.
Dr. Lee initiated and co-curated the exhibition “Da Vinci: Shaping the Future” at the ArtScience Musuem in Singapore. She was the exhibition curator and book editor of “Magnificence Once More”, the Singapore Women Artists Exhibition 2022 for the Federation of Art Societies (Singapore), and has assisted in curating the Molan Art Association 55th Anniversary Exhibition and editing the book. Dr. Lee also founded an art-related, award winning social enterprise LittleSun Pte Ltd.
Dr. Lee is the President of the Federation of Art Societies (Singapore), President of Molan Art Association, Vice President of The Society of Chinese Artists, Treasurer of Women Artists Association (Singapore), Committee Member of the International Art & Culture (Singapore) Federation, Committee Member of Club NAFA, life member of Hua Han Art Society, Shicheng Calligraphy and Seal-carving Society (Singapore), Singapore Art Society, and member of Nanyang Yaji, Penang Art Society and Japan Institute of International Art NPO.
"Inkscape shows the beauty of Chinese ink on rice paper. It is an innovative take on traditional Chinese landscape painting. The composition comprises interlocking opposing triangular wedges. The river at the bottom is done with one broad sweep of the brush. Above that is the reflection of the trees in the river, and the forest is done with yet another broad sweep of the brush. The trees and branches are created using an unpainted, exposed technique; unpainted surfaces being a feature of Chinese brush painting. Above the forest, one can see the flux of the clouds in the sky… the dynamic effect of the clouds being achieved with the flow of the ink on the rice paper. On the extreme left is a glimpse of the setting sun fading into the distance and the night sky looms above that. Inkscape plays with different shades of Chinese ink, brushwork and composition."
