Picturing Power, 2013
Picturing Power is a series of eight composite images from the archives of Tropenmuseum in Amsterdam. Tropenmuseum, founded in 1864, showcased the treasures, customs and lifestyles of the Dutch colonies, especially Indonesia.
In this work, Yee removes the original contexts, creating a vast negative space that shifts the focus on instruments of representation: cameras, telescopes, drafting tables and school desks. By foregrounding the instruments, the act of representation becomes a mechanism of power.
The colonial gaze is not only a structure of representation but also presupposes active intervention — here, the native body holds up school desks as sacred objects; they participate in a ritual of reeducation.
***
Yee I-Lan (b. 1971, Malaysia) is a contemporary artist whose practice spans photography, collage, film, weaving, and everyday objects. Her work explores power, colonialism, and historic memory’s impact on social experiences in Southeast Asia. Since 2018, she has collaborated with sea- and land-based indigenous communities in Sabah, Malaysia.
Yee has exhibited widely across Asia, Europe, the United States, and Australia. Notable solo exhibitions include Until We Hug Again (2021) at the Centre for Heritage Arts & Textile, Hong Kong, and Fluid World (2011) at the Contemporary Art Centre of South Australia.
She has participated in major biennales and triennales, including the Yinchuan Biennale (2016), Asia Pacific Triennial (2015, 1999), Jakarta Biennale (2015), Singapore Biennale (2013, 2006), and Fukuoka Asian Art Triennale (2009). Yee lives and works in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah.
In this work, Yee removes the original contexts, creating a vast negative space that shifts the focus on instruments of representation: cameras, telescopes, drafting tables and school desks. By foregrounding the instruments, the act of representation becomes a mechanism of power.
The colonial gaze is not only a structure of representation but also presupposes active intervention — here, the native body holds up school desks as sacred objects; they participate in a ritual of reeducation.
***
Yee I-Lan (b. 1971, Malaysia) is a contemporary artist whose practice spans photography, collage, film, weaving, and everyday objects. Her work explores power, colonialism, and historic memory’s impact on social experiences in Southeast Asia. Since 2018, she has collaborated with sea- and land-based indigenous communities in Sabah, Malaysia.
Yee has exhibited widely across Asia, Europe, the United States, and Australia. Notable solo exhibitions include Until We Hug Again (2021) at the Centre for Heritage Arts & Textile, Hong Kong, and Fluid World (2011) at the Contemporary Art Centre of South Australia.
She has participated in major biennales and triennales, including the Yinchuan Biennale (2016), Asia Pacific Triennial (2015, 1999), Jakarta Biennale (2015), Singapore Biennale (2013, 2006), and Fukuoka Asian Art Triennale (2009). Yee lives and works in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah.
Artist:
Yee I-Lann
Giclée Print on Hahnemuhle Photo Rag Ultra Smooth Fine Art, 310 gsm, 100% Cotton Rag Paper
Dimensions variable
Collection of John Chia and Cheryl Loh
Yee I-Lann
Giclée Print on Hahnemuhle Photo Rag Ultra Smooth Fine Art, 310 gsm, 100% Cotton Rag Paper
Dimensions variable
Collection of John Chia and Cheryl Loh