Ashlee Ip (b. 1988) is a Hong Kong-based painter whose works explore the interplay between constraint and growth. In her ongoing artistic exploration, she draws from both personal experience and broader psychological states to create works that navigate the delicate space between emotion and form, instinct and structure. 

Her paintings combine figurative and abstract elements, forming compositions of swirling, flowing shapes that reflect interior landscapes such as feelings, tensions, and impulses that resist clear articulation. These shapes often seem in motion, caught in a moment of becoming, as though suspended in a silent dialogue between chaos and order.

Can you tell us about your background and how you started your artistic journey?

I was born and raised in Hong Kong. From a young age, I was captivated by drawing, when the influence of Japanese anime swept through the city in the 1990s. During high school, I was addicted to creating computer graphics. However, when I entered university and began to plan my future, I faced the pivotal choice between design and traditional painting, and at that time, I decided to become an artist.

In the early days, I felt quite lost in the contemporary art world (well, maybe I still do). However, when reflecting on my true beginnings, I must mention a serendipitous opportunity that felt like a karmic kick-off. Just after graduating, I received a call from a friend who had met someone at a bar looking for an artist’s assistant for oil painting. At the time, I was juggling a design job while renting a studio nearby. Without a second thought, I met the artist, who planned to be based in Hong Kong for a while, and began assisting him with his work. After he left the city, I joined the gallery he had collaborated with, starting as a project assistant and designer. During a period when the gallery was expanding in Asia, I was fortunate to be involved in many intriguing and exciting projects alongside some active contemporary artists. The experiences I gained during this time fundamentally shaped my understanding of the industry and prepared me to embrace my identity as an artist, officially re-engaging in my own creative practice.

I was fully engaged in my own production after that; it was an awakening period to confront my true self and the challenges ahead. My previous experiences were a side-track; they did not help in executing my creations. Questions such as: What is interesting and inspiring to me? What should I create to build a bridge with this world? Is there anything I want to communicate? What methods and presentations should I adopt to connect my thoughts? Since then, more and more questions have continued to loop in my mind throughout my artistic journey.

What are the main themes or concepts you explore in your work?

Recently, I have been contemplating the theme of “constraint and growth.” Upon returning to the field as an artist, I began painting casually to explore my feelings and thoughts. I am particularly drawn to works that honestly reflect the artist’s life and mental state. Naturally, this led me to develop my own topics in a similar direction. I confronted my personality, preferences, and thought processes, uncovering a contradictory aspect of myself: I have a repressive personality yet yearn for blooming. As I navigate my growth, I realize that it mirrors the experiences of many others; we often feel the need to fulfill societal or familial expectations to pursue our true desires, especially in the Asian regions. 

Sometimes, I find that “responsibility” can serve as a beneficial guideline. It creates a solid framework that provides a sense of security in life and encourages you to engage in experiences you might not have anticipated. Of course, everything has two sides. If the balance is disrupted, this suppression and restraint can hinder growth. With these thoughts in mind, I began creating paintings that reflect the balance between restriction and development, a concept that can be applied to various situations.

My works often feature shimmering gold lines that wind through the canvas like guiding threads. Drawing from gold’s historical use in religious and authoritative imagery, I use this color to represent the invisible forces that shape us. The lines symbolize the social rules and responsibilities that quietly influence our lives. They serve as both barriers and guides, suggesting that constraints can provide structure and even propel us forward. Beyond the golden lines lies a state of change that seems to never stagnate. These combinations can be adjusted into different forms and scales, and I am still exploring the possibilities of the struggles on both sides.

How has your artistic style evolved over time?

I would say it depends on my thoughts and the stages of life change. 

In my earliest works, my preferences are evident on the canvas—fluid, melting elements and a blend of layered colors. I use these to create imaginative landscapes, sometimes applying them to real-world landscapes as well. I don’t strive to establish a recognized style or color system to distinguish my work. Instead, I focus on my preferences and the pure traces of my brush to depict the scenarios I envision. Consequently, the themes of my early works may appear different and inconsistent, yet you can still find some traces that reflect the work of the same person.

The fluidity of my earlier work perhaps reflected my exploration of the unknown, whereas the introduction of the golden lines in my current practice represents a newfound contemplation of structure within that ongoing exploration.

It may be too early for me to discuss how my artistic style has evolved over time, as I feel my body of work isn’t yet substantial enough to illustrate that timeline. However, I believe my artistic style will continue to evolve naturally, becoming more diversified with time. This evolution is one of the reasons I remain committed to painting as my creative medium. I find it to be very humane, as it records the artist’s thoughts and feelings over a timeframe, reflecting the life journey of a unique individual.

I view my artistic style as a collection of different stories and chapters. Just like I’m struggling with the theme of “constraint and growth” currently, but in the future, new experiences may arise that resonate with me, leading to the beginning of another chapter.

Who or what are your biggest influences, both artistically and personally?

I believe that every encounter and relationship has an impact on me, just as interactions between people can create varying degrees of chemistry. I’m a strong-willed person with clear preferences and choices. Yet, when I find myself in a group, it’s inevitable to be influenced by the diverse individuals and work habits around me.

During my time as an artist’s assistant, adopting another artist’s creative methods and helping to complete their works undoubtedly had a significant effect on me. You have to use someone else’s approach to realize their vision, and this routine of day and night becomes your habit. Therefore, after that job ended, I paused my own creations for a while. To let go of those ingrained habits, to forget, and to return to my most original state.

Additionally, the people and experiences I encountered while working at the gallery also influenced my thoughts and personality. Being part of the gallery meant I had to adjust my way of thinking to align with the team’s or the individual artists’ needs. Those years intruded on my habitual thinking, bringing new perspectives and cultivating certain work habits. However, after leaving those groups, I similarly returned to my individuality and was able to revert to my initial mode.

I treat the influences as the residual nourishment left behind after each one ends. This nourishment, through time and transformation, gradually reshapes my identity. I wouldn’t claim that a single person or artwork can significantly influence me; while they may bring certain feelings, they don’t create a lasting impact. Instead, it’s the accumulation of experiences and social circles that truly moves me.

What challenges have you faced as an artist, and how have you overcome them?

In artistic terms, I have to keep thinking about what I am doing, catching the ideas and inspiration that pop up in time, and being patient enough to turn them into tangible materials. Ideas come quickly, but execution does not. Many of those ideas drop out in the middle of the creation process because they no longer seem suitable, and many are still in my archive waiting to be used. I guess one of the difficulties is that you still need to bring them up and finish the work, even when the ideas no longer sound appealing to you. This means you have to accept the various kinds of silly thoughts you have; sometimes, those thoughts may feel shameful, but you still need to be brave enough to show them in public. You have to accept that they are parts of you and get the artworks done.

In practical terms, it’s always about how to live, and this kind of pressure often affects your emotions. I always try to get used to this; I think it comes to every artist. Although I feel like giving up every day, I still move forward slowly. Sometimes, an artist’s path doesn’t work solely through hard work. Having a good career is a team effort, with different roles in this industry working together to help. In this case, what I can do is keep making artworks and seize every opportunity that may come. I try not to think too much, but to focus on the moment.

What do you hope people take away from your art when they experience it?

I hope they can build their own little secrets and connections with the artwork. I cannot control how people feel about my work, and I also don’t like to provide a standard interpretation of how to view it. Self-awareness is a precious and moving experience, and I hope my work has the power to inspire people to think a little more. They can try to find the messages I left in the paintings, or they can use their own understanding and experiences to feel and connect with the artworks. I always love to hear how people perceive my work. You shouldn’t rely on others to tell you how to feel, reading an artwork is a fun experience.

Text & photo courtesy of Ashlee Ip

Website: https://www.ashleeip.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ashleewtip/