Nikki S. Lee

Nikki S. Lee is a photographer and filmmaker who creates durational bodies of work. Stretching the parameters of performance and identity politics, Lee’s best known series is Projects (1997-2001) which Lee began while studying at NYU. Selecting various sub-cultural identities such as skateboarders, exotic dancers, swingers, yuppies or senior citizens, Lee would spend three or four months with each community, learning their social intricacies, expressions, behaviours, ways of dressing etc. After this research period, Lee would present herself as a member of this group, and spend a further few weeks being pictured as part of this new entourage, aiming to blend into the fabric of the clique. Merging elements of documentary, research and performance, the representation of these multiple personas links Lee’s practice to the work of Cindy Sherman, Eleanor Antin and Adrian Piper. However, Lee’s oeuvre has come under scrutiny in recent years with accusations of cultural appropriation, (Lee darkened her skin to assimilate with the Hip-Hop crowd and drastically altered her makeup as part of the Hispanic series). Critics continue to question whether Lee mobilizes appropriation to highlight and challenge racial, gender or sexuality biases, or whether her methodologies further cement social divisions.