We Are All Mountaineers - Exit (出)
BOVEY LEE’S WE ARE ALL MOUNTAINEERS - EXIT (出) (2018) calls out injustice and hypocrisy with poetic appeals aimed at the viewer’s heart. Lee’s intricate lattices depict complex social narratives while paying homage to the ancient Chinese folk tradition of paper cutting, an activity performed by women who work anonymously and without credit. The piece We Are All Mountaineers - Exit (出) depicts the history of immigration in the United States, with mountains and several US cities populated by immigrants serving as a backdrop. Recurring motifs in the series– including stars, gates, fences, and oceans– all stem from this work. The Star series, for example, references the American flag and depicts children alone and in suspended poses. Each child seeks comfort and stability through play or toys, while staying afloat in the transitory ocean with poise and courage.
