Ann Lee

Ann Lee is an enigmatic figure in contemporary art, whose presence has blurred the boundaries between digital avatar, conceptual artwork, and collective authorship. Originally conceived in 1999 by French artists Pierre Huyghe and Philippe Parreno, Ann Lee began her life as a generic, unremarkable character purchased from a Japanese manga and animation agency. Intended as a reflection on identity, authorship, and the commodification of creativity, Ann Lee was 'adopted' by a roster of international artists, each offering their own interpretation and context for her existence.

Through video installations, prints, and narrative interventions, Ann Lee became a vessel for examining questions of autonomy and ownership in the age of globalized image culture. Her journey through diverse exhibitions worldwide not only questioned the mechanisms of the art world but also highlighted the fluidity of character and self in the digital era, making Ann Lee both a unique entity and a symbol for the collaborative and ever-evolving nature of contemporary art practice.