T*H*E     S*T*O*R*Y      O*F     L*E*E     N*I*N*I

Lee Nini (1972, Lynge, Denmark) and Lotta Sweetliv were neighbors from birth and inseparable. They even developed their own private language excluding everyone around them. It was therefore quite a shock when Lee moved to the Netherlands in 1977 with his father and younger brother Robert. Besides the heartache from missing Lotta, Lee’s unusual upbringing contributed to his development as an artist in many ways:

Schooling.
In addition to his regular schooling, Lee was taught a number of skills at home from the age of six. These ranged from writing poetry and sewing, to composing music and technical drawing.
From the age of eight, a more practical training began. In an ongoing three-week cycle, Lee had to redesign his bedroom. The furniture had to be given a new place and everything else had to be altered as well. The handpainted wallpaper and the bedding had to be renewed. The paintings and drawings on the walls also had to have a new theme every three weeks. A set of clothing for everyone was sewn to complement the rooms.

Bonfires.
The vernissage that marked the end of the three weeks and the beginning of the new one, started off with an experimental jazz-concert that had been composed in reverse. During intermission short and mini-films were projected onto the ceiling. After this there was a bonfire in the garden, burning the old drawings, paintings, films, clothes and beddings during a recital of 92 abstract poems.

Maastricht.
In 2001 Lee was allowed to live on his own, provided he chose a profession in healthcare and would limit his hobbies to sports activities.
He moved to Maastricht and took a job in elderly care.
Lee secretly kept a notebook about the visions he had daily.
Already during breakfast, cat-like aliens with fluorescent eyes appeared at his kitchen table.
On the train to work he saw tiny theater performances with singing and dancing.
Spheres and mathematical figures rose from the people he encountered throughout the day, as well from trees and cars.

Finding Lotta.
When his father died on the 16th of February 2012, Lee was finally free. He took a pencil and made a drawing of one of his miniature uncles, who was taking a stroll around the sandwich in front of him. After finishing his sandwich, he booked a trainticket to Denmark in order to find Lotta.

Lee’s livingroom with the portal placed under the upper carpet.