There was a mahjong-inspired lantern – the popular Chinese tile-based game – and another she called the mooncake maze.

However, the Chinese opera-inspired lantern that was accepted by the OzAsia Festival stood out from the rest. We caught up with Lee to have a chat about her lantern for this year’s Moon Lantern Trail (20-23 October) at the OzAsia Festival (20 October to 6 November) and what inspires her as an artist.

Why did you decide to create a lantern for the moon lantern Trail?

The mid-autumn festival, which the Moon Lantern Trail is linked to, is a very popular festival in Chinese culture.

I was born in Hong Kong and came to Australia when I was six or seven. The traditions that are linked to the mid-autumn festival are really close to my heart and I’ve got quite strong connections to them.

This made it quite easy for me to think of subjects and concepts to do with the Moon Lantern Trail, and it was also an opportunity for me to flex my other creative muscles. The whole festival is so close to my heart because it’s the arts.

Can you tell me a little bit about what you’re creating?

I created a set of six Chinese opera masks. Each of these masks have different characters. Chinese opera is one of the oldest dramatic art forms in the world so it’s got a history of more than 3000 years and is an amalgamation of many different regional art forms.

My mum was actually an opera singer in the Cantonese language, so I’ve grown up with her singing and rehearsing at our house.

These masks have all different personalities. There’s an angry person, or a military personality or a judge or a young, innocent girl.

A long time ago you wouldn’t have any audio visual as part of a production so people relied on the makeup on the actor so they could see from far away that the green face means this, or the white face means purity. So, they know something about the character as soon as they walk on to the stage without hearing them speak.

I’ve done the same thing with these masks. They command a presence. They’re all the same shape.

So, it was your mum that inspired this creation?

Definitely. I’ve grown up with [Chinese opera] in my home –[Mum] belting it out really loud on the stereo and practicing. This was one of my first concepts.

They also have really beautiful makeup and head dresses. Even the makeup they [use in Chinese Opera] takes years to learn. They have amazing costumes. I wanted to bring a bit of that to OzAsia and the concept matches the OzAsia arts as well because it’s a dramatic artform.

What sort of materials are used to create a moon lantern?

After working with the OzAsia crew, who have been amazing and encouraging, I’ve learnt that there’s someone who welds the frame at his workshop and then there’s another person who specialises in costume design usually. She selects the coloured fabric or we get something printed. That’s on Lycra which covers the entire frame. It’s sort of like a cage and they put the lights in. The Lycra will stand up to the wind and rain a bit more.

So, I guess this is your first year creating a moon lantern for OzAsia then?

Definitely, so I’m pretty excited. I met up with one of the creators and he showed me one of the faces he created, and it’s huge.

They’ll really command interest – they’re not cutesy. They have a strong presence which will be interesting to see in the public space.

How long does it take to create a moon lantern?

I drew quite a few different concepts, but it took a day to draw this concept. For OzAsia to create it, it will take at least a month. The guy that’s welding it is sending me pictures every day. He’s probably actually working day and night because he messages me late at night sometimes.

What have you learnt from this experience?

If nothing else, even if my concept wasn’t selected, I learnt a lot about my heritage. Yes, I grew up with Chinese opera and I grew up with all the concepts like moon cakes and mahjong; however, I only know about it from my own childhood experience. I didn’t know how rich some of the history was. I didn’t know that mahjong was so famous in Jewish America. I’ve learnt a lot about the history of what I’m doing and I’m a lot richer for it.

If you want to see Lee’s Chinese opera moon lantern and other works of art, visit this year’s Moon Lantern Trail at OzAsia Festival, held from 20 to 23 October at Pinky Flat/Tarntanya Wama.