Austin Lee. Divine Fool

About

The exhibition, ‘Divine Fool’, marks the artist’s fifth solo exhibition with the gallery, and invites viewers to see the world through his eyes and reflect on the complexities of the human mind.

In ‘Divine Fool,’ Lee blends the sacred with the absurd. The exhibition asks viewers to consider the figure the fool, not only as the court jester or idiot savant of old, but its present day, perhaps gentler, incarnation – a figure who embodies both wisdom and innocence. The exhibition also serves as a testament to Lee’s enduring love for painting itself, and his deep admiration for artists who have shaped his own creative journey. His references to artists such as Giacometti, Itō Jakuchū and others reveal his dialogue with art history. Lee’s passion for the process of painting—whether through traditional oils or digital tools—underscores his dedication to exploring the medium’s infinite possibilities. In ‘Divine Fool’, Lee pays homage to the act of painting, not only as a method of expression but as a celebration of the craft and its practitioners across time.