Lot 88: "Beezy" (William James Sebastian) Bailey (South African, born 1962) Lee Ping Zing 44 x 71 1/4in (111.7 x 181cm) unframed

Lee Ping Zing
signed and dated 'Beezy Bailey 96' (verso)
oil and paper collage on canvas
44 x 71 1/4in (111.7 x 181cm)
unframed

PROVENANCE:
Ms Marloes Bernsen, thence bequeathed to;
The Ojai Valley Museum, CA.

This lot is accompanied by an artist's book Lee Ping Zing: a suburban fantasy, edition 50 of 100 and a screen printed men's Oxford shirt depicting images of Ling Ping Zing.

Lee Ping Zing is the central character in many of Bailey's works:

"Lee Ping Zing started life on a Chinese ceremonial bank note that I found in a New York Chinese supermarket. They used to burn these at funerals to bring the deceased riches in the next life. I painted about fifty of these notes, always retaining the Lee's face, yet changing his surroundings. I then illustrated the pictures with words instead of the usual process of illustrating the text with images. And so the Lee Ping Zing project grew over a five year period. It covered all areas of my work: painting, prints, sculpture, a performance, a recorded song, t-shirts, gold fabric and a book. Lee Ping Zing became a kind of legend like Tintin or Mickey Mouse, though not as famous."

Lee Ping Zing paintings were included in Through the Looking Glass, a group exhibition of works projected onto the exterior of the Jibby Beane Gallery, London, with David Bowie, Brian Eno and Langlands & Bell.