The video and photographic artworks of Brendan Lee are an exploration of the evolutionary nature of Australian cultural identity. In recent years, Lee has focused on investigating the unique undercurrents of society through commenting on groups and teams that are unique to Australia; it's stereotypes and history. Specifically, Lee's ongoing project examines the cultural and historical differences between Larrikins, Bogans and Hoons, their approaches to competition, affiliations and filmic references.
Lee’s subject matter goes to the core of the Australian male's competitive nature and looks outside of the mainstream for his references. Games of chance, motor sports and drinking contests are all subjects Lee brings to the forefront in his search for the Australian spirit.
Currently Lee is completing on a novel and a major series of works
Recent exhibitions include Proving Ground, for ART#1, Benalla, 2010 and the Australian Centre for Contemporary Art, 2007; Between a Rock, Bendigo Art Gallery, 2007; Two Birds With One Stone, The Art Gallery of New South Wales, 2006; The Beautiful Badlands, Crossley & Scott, Melbourne 2006; Shootin’ from The Hip, Perth Institute of Contemporary Art (PICA); Takin’ a Shot, The Institute for Modern Art (IMA), Brisbane 2005; …Matter of Time, Gertrude Contemporary Art Space and Video-Spell curated by Blair French, Performance Space, Sydney 2004. He was the guest editor of Photofile 74 and has written for un Magazine and Artlink. Lee is a founding member of Kings Artist Run Initiative. Lee received an Australia Council residency in Los Angeles and exhibited in a major survey of Australian moving image artists at the Tate Modern in February 2009.
Brendan Lee is represented by Jenny Port Gallery, Melbourne.