Jolene Lai

This work is in excellent overall condition as viewed, as is canvas which is clear and taut. Unframed, on a Stretcher.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

'In the midst of soft greenwood, echoes you might hear —
the beckoning of a trail that slithers and slides.
Where leaves begin to flutter and mottled shadows fly,
there is a nook undisturbed where secrets may lie.

It speaks of scarlet webs that glisten under dancing rays,
skimming and curving, twirling and spinning.
Oh that sweet intoxicating red ribbon's a-blooming!

Be wary as it clings and climbs,
obscuring the place and also the time.
The veil gets lower with each twist and turn.
One who sleeps may never return.'

— Jolene Lai

Jolene Lai’s work disarmingly extracts visual magic from the mundane repetitions of daily life, and from the familiar narratives that lurk in our shared consciousness. Like adult fairy tales, the artist transforms known situations from memory and the every day, building playful symbolic narratives through free association. Lai transports the viewer through a whimsical cast of characters and symbols; at times absurd, and at others tragicomic. Her work resembles a waking dream, where the known reality is haunted by the uncanny. Through the use of surreal imagery, the artist sought to explore the complex facets of the human condition, and in particular, the hidden recesses of the familiar.