Biography of Rozana Lee, an Indonesian-born Auckland based artist whose work ranges from painting, installation, creative writing and community-based project that addresses notion of survival and human relationship with Nature.

I was born in Aceh, Indonesia, a country with over three hundred ethnic groups and dialects, fourth generation of Chinese migrant descent. Growing up in Indonesia, my childhood was filled with accounts of racial and religious tensions. In 1998, I left Indonesia and immigrated to Singapore following anti-Chinese minority violence in the form of rioting, robbing, raping, and killing. I met my husband, a European New Zealander, in Singapore and our two boys were born there. In 2004, the Boxing Day Tsunami hit my parental hometown and killed over 170,000 of its residents including my mother and many of my childhood friends. This prompted me to re-evaluate my life and in 2009 I gave up my 15 years banking career. I immigrated permanently to Aotearoa New Zealand following my family in 2010, after a year living in Suzhou, China. Reviving my long-time passion for art, I decided to pursue my second degree in Fine Arts.

Education and Art courses:

Master of Fine Arts, First Class Honours, Elam School of Fine Arts, The University of Auckland, New Zealand. (University Postgraduate Scholar).
Post Graduate Diploma in Fine Arts (with Distinction), Elam School of Fine Arts, The University of Auckland, New Zealand.
Bachelor of Visual Arts (with Distinction), Auckland University of Technology (AUT), New Zealand.

Diploma in Investment, Institute of Banking and Finance, Singapore.
Oil painting, La Salle College of the Arts Singapore.
Bachelor of Arts, English Language and Literature (with Distinction), The University of Methodist Indonesia.

Scholarships:

Research Masters Scholarship, University of Auckland, 2018.
Henrietta and Lola Anne Tunbridge Water Colour Scholarship, 2018.
Summer Research Scholarship, University of Auckland, 2017-2018.

Awards:

Finalist, Wallace Art Awards, 2019.
Finalist, Parkin Drawing Prize Awards, 2019.
People Choice Award (joint winner), Estuary Art & Ecology Prize Awards, 2018.
Runner up, Henrietta and Lola Anne Tunbridge Water Colour Scholarship Award, 2018.
Finalist, Wallace Art Awards, 2018.
Finalist, Walker & Hall Waiheke Art Award 2017.
Finalist, Estuary Art & Ecology Prize Awards 2017.
Finalist, Molly Morpeth Canaday Award 2017.
Artist Alliance Mentoring Programme recipient 2016.
Finalist, Walker & Hall Waiheke Art Award 2016.
Finalist, Parkin Drawing Prize Award 2016.
Semi Finalist, Molly Morpeth Canaday Award 2016.
Finalist, Molly Morpeth Canaday Award 2015.

Artist Residencies:

May 2019, Making Space, Guangzhou, China.
March 2016, artist in residence and exhibition, Instinc Gallery, Singapore.

Volunteering:

Curatorial Team, Window Gallery, Auckland, 2020-present.
Elam Galleries Committee member, 2017-2018.
Elam Studio International Group mentor, 2017-2018.
Artspace Auckland, 2016-now.

Grant:

Creative NZ, Creative Community Scheme, Auckland, Patches of Life 2004-2014: Indonesian Batik making project with primary school children and community around Auckland to mark 10th anniversary of Boxing Day Tsunami 2004 and touring exhibitions.

Art Related Job:

International student mentor, Elam, The University of Auckland, 2018.

Work collected by:

The Wallace Arts Trust, New Zealand.
Private collectors in NZ and South East Asia.

Current Projects:

April 29- May 17, 2020, Auckland Art Fair (Virtual Art Fair), Project 2020: Space As Substance, curated by Micheal Do. Supported by Deadly Ponies. https://www.thebigidea.nz/stories/house-visits-connecting-cultures
April 10 - March 2022, Te Wheke: Pathways Across Oceania, Christchurch Art Gallery. (Pending Opening due to COVID-19)

Solo Exhibitions/Art Projects:

March 18 - April 4, 2020, Future Flowering, Play_Station, Wellington.
August 25, 2019, Tactile Histories, Fabric Collage workshop, Taranaki Art Festival, New Plymouth. https://www.stuff.co.nz/taranaki-daily-news/news/115047252/tactile-histories-fabrics-telling-stories
May 24 - July 24, 2019, Reconfigure(d), Making Space, Guangzhou, China.
April 20, 2019, Auckland Art Fair Dinner, Balconies Facing the Sun.
April 10 - May 5, 2019, (Be)Longing, Window Gallery, Auckland.
Nov 16 2018 - 1 Apri,l 2019, To Begin Again, Above the Sofa: Artspace Auckland reading room.
April 22 & May 20, 2018, Tactile Histories: Fabric Collage workshops organised by Satellites (funded by Auckland Council) at Mt. Roskill and Te Tuhi, Pakuranga.
July 25 - August 6, 2017, Ornamentation and Abstraction, Sanderson Contemporary Art, Auckland.
March 23 - May 11, 2017, Lost and Remembered, Corner Window Gallery, Karangahape Road, Auckland.
Feb 28 - March 26, 2017, Beyond the Differences, Flexi Space, Wallace Gallery Morrinsville.
March 2016, Singapore Sensation, Artist Residency and Solo exhibition, Instinc Gallery, Singapore.
May-August 2014, Patches of Life 2004-2014, Community Art Project and Touring Exhibitions to mark 10th Anniversary of 2004 Boxing Day Tsunami. This project is kindly funded by Creative NZ;
Mt. Eden Village Center: May 12-25, 2104.
Northart : June 23 - July 4, 2014.
Franklin Art Centre: July 19 - August 2, 2014.
May 2013, Tsunami Hour, Artstation (now Studio One Toi Tū) Auckland.

Selected Group Exhibitions

Sept 2, 2019 - 2020, Wallace Art Awards 2019 Travelling Finalists exhibition. The Pah Homestead, Auckland and touring exhibitions.
August 5 - Sept 8, 2019, Parkin Drawing Prize Awards exhibition, NZ Academy of Fine Arts, Wellington.
July 4 - 27, 2019, Fluid Borders, Audio Foundation, Auckland.
Feb 14 - May 17, 2019, Two Oceans At Once, St. Paul St Gallery, Auckland, curated by Cameron Ah-Loo Matamua and Charlotte Hudleston.
Jan 16 - Feb 14, 2019, Once Upon A Time, Studio One Toi Tū, Auckland, curated by Philip Tse.
Nov 22 - 25, 2018, To Begin Again, MFA Graduation Show, George Fraser Gallery, Auckland.
Sept 4 - Oct28, 2018, Wallace Art Awards, The Pah Homestead, Auckland.
August 16 - 25, 2018, Counter-sites: Onsite, Studio international group exhibition, Elam Projectspace. (Note. I co-curated this show)
August 8 - 11, 2018, Henrietta and Lola Anne Tunbridge Water Colour Scholarship Awards, Elam Projectspace.
July 9 - August 11, 2018, Estuary Art & Ecology Prize Awards, Malcolm Smith Gallery, Uxbridge Centre, Auckland.
April 23 - May 25, 2018, Unseen, Unheard, Unveiled, currated by Alice Tyler and Zoe Hoeberigs, Malcolm Smith Gallery, Uxbridge Centre, Auckland.
May 1 - 6, 2018, In the Language We all Understand, Elam Projectspace, Auckland.
March 5- 9, 2018, Summer Research Show, Elam Projectspace Gallery, Auckland.
Nov 20 - Dec 3, 2017, Ornamental Patterns: Reclaiming Excess and Difference, Elam Artists Graduate Show, Auckland.
Oct 20 - Nov 12, 2017, The Walker & Hall Waiheke Art Award Exhibition, Waiheke Island.
Oct 7 - 5, 2017, Artweek Auckland, Look@KRoad, curated by Lyn Dallison.
August 8 - 22, 2017, Here, There, and The Space in Between, Studio International exhibition, George Fraser Gallery and Elam Project Space, Auckland.
August 23 - Sept 14, 2017, I Live for that Energy, curated by Philip Tse, Studio One Toi Tū, Auckland.
June 10 - July 15, 2017, Estuary Art and Ecological Prize Awards, Malcolm Smith Gallery, Auckland.
Jan 28 - March 12, 2017, Molly Morpeth Canaday Art Award exhibition, Whakatane, New Zealand.
October 22 - Nov 14, 2016, Walker & Hall Waiheke Art Award, Waiheke.
October 8 - 16, 2016, Artweek Aukland, Look@Kroad curated by Lyn Dallison, at BNZ 129 Karangahape Road.
August 2 - August 28, 2016, Parkin Drawing Prize exhibition, The Academy Galleries, Wellington.
June 26 - July 13 2016, Northart Members' Exhibition, Auckland.
March 30 - April 21, 2016, The Colour of Your Heart is What Matters, curated by Philip Tse, Studio One Toi Tū, Auckland. http://artsdiary.co.nz/80/2110.html
Feb 21 - March 8, 2016, Chance and Change, Northart, Auckland http://artsdiary.co.nz/79/2076.html
November 12 - 14, 2015, On The Manner of Addressing Chaos, Graduating Exhibition, AUT AD15, Auckland. http://www.artsdiary.co.nz/76/2004.html
October 10 - 18, 2015, Artweek Auckland, Look at K Road.
Sept 2015, Reaching the Horizon and Beyond, curated by Philip Tse, Malcolm Smith Gallery, Uxbridge, Auckland.
Aug 2015, Reaching the Horizon and Beyond, curated by Philip Tse, Studio One Toi Tu, Auckland. http://artsdiary.co.nz/70/1873.html
Aug 2015, Mt. Albert Grammar School Fine Art Show, Auckland.
May 2015, Pilot Project 4, Strangely Familiar, AUT St. Paul Street Gallery 3, Auckland. http://www.artsdiary.co.nz/bt67/1787.html
May 2015, Members' Mid Year Exhibition, Northart Gallery. (All works were selected by Jennifer Buckley, director of Orexart and past director Auckland Art Fair).
March 2015, Between Tides, Westmere Beach, Auckland.
Jan - March 2015, Molly Morpeth Canaday Art Award exhibition, Whakatane, NZ.
Jan - Feb 2015, Northart Members' Show, Auckland.
October 2014, Y2 BVA Open Day, AUT, Auckland.
October 2014, Artweek Auckland, Victoria Park Market, Auckland.
September 2014, Art Expo, Auckland Grammar School, Auckland.
May 2014, Northart Members' Midyear Exhibition (All works selected by Tim Melville, Tim Melville Gallery), Auckland.
March 2014, Tools of The Trade Project by JJ Morgan, Paul Nache Gallery, Gisborne.
Jan - Feb 2014, Treasure to Treasure,The Northart Summer Members' show, NorthArt Gallery, Auckland. http://artsdiary.co.nz/bt48/1320/1.html
Nov 2013, Painter's Progress, Artstation, Auckland. http://artsdiary.co.nz/bt47/1309/1.html
Oct 2013, Art Week Auckland event Tsunami Hour, Ponsonby Central, Auckland.
Oct 2013, Artist Talk Tsunami Hour, Beach Heaven Community House, Auckland
June 2013, Kohia Terrace School Art Exhibition, Auckland.