Following the opening of The Things That Hold Us, we sat down with artists Can Sun and Heyo Lee to explore the themes at the heart of the exhibition and how they unfold within each of their practices. From memory and intimacy to the everyday gestures and experiences that shape our sense of self, the conversation offers a closer look into the ideas, processes and personal perspectives behind the works on view.
Installation view: The Things That Hold Us, Can Sun and Heyo Lee, Mandy Zhang Art 2026
What does “The Things That Hold Us” mean to you?
Sun: “To me, The Things that Hold Us makes me think about the small things that quietly support us, pull us, or sometimes even hold us back. They can be a relationship, a habit, an object we use every day, or a memory that keeps returning”.
“I’ve always been interested in how ordinary things can carry meanings far beyond themselves. When an object is placed in a different relationship, it can suddenly become connected to intimacy, desire, time, or loss. So for me, what really “holds us” is not the object itself, but the relationships and meanings we build around it.”
Lee: “The things that hold me are the things I care about, and the things I feel I should care for. Obviously, my family. My dog. And the plants in my studio, which are also a source of inspiration for me”.
“I used to think that an artist should have a special perspective or subject that only they could see or show. But now, I have become more interested in being a person who cares about what I need to protect, grow, maintain, look after, and love. Love holds me”.
Developing humorous absurdity
Sun’s visual language contrasts peculiar yet humorous arrangements of common objects. Sun has previously described that art was a way to process his past traumas. He primarily uses visual conflicts to hook the viewer. Attention is sustained when the audience's logical expectations are not reflected in its visual equivalent. This way of translating experience to imagery stayed while he began to expand beyond representing only personal past experiences.
Installation view: The Things That Hold Us, Can Sun and Heyo Lee, Mandy Zhang Art 2026
How has your relationship to absurd humour changed since your solo exhibition Bruises (2024)?
Sun: “I think what has changed is not the humour itself, but the way I use it. During Bruises, humour was more a way of dealing with pain and contradiction. Many of the works looked light or even absurd on the surface, but there was often something more painful underneath. Humour created a little distance, allowing me to talk about difficult things in a lighter way. Now, humour feels more natural to me. It is no longer only a way of dealing with pain, but has become part of how I observe everyday life. I’ve become more interested in small, ordinary moments, because questions about relationships, desire, time, and existence can often be found within them. So rather than saying my work has become lighter, I think I’ve learned to let lightness and heaviness exist together.
Installation view: The Things That Hold Us, Can Sun and Heyo Lee, Mandy Zhang Art 2026
On LEE'S painting process and The “Everyday” subject
For Lee, most of his paintings are about balance, love and emotions from everyday life.
Lee: “When I look around, I think about what story I can tell through an object: why I have it, what it means to me, and whether there is a story connected to it. Then I imagine what kind of feeling I want to express through it.”
“I have spent a long time thinking about how I should finish the physical surface of a painting. I have never really felt comfortable with thick paint texture, so I first tried making a flat surface through a clear and precise application of paint. But that didn’t feel right for me either. I was deeply inspired by the lighting and warm colour schemes of Wayne Thiebaud and other members of the California-based Bay Area Figurative Art movement, such as David Park and Raimonds Staprans. At the same time, I was looking for a more contemporary way of painting, something I found in artists such as Julian Opie and Takashi Murakami. I have also always been quite comfortable with digital ways of seeing and making images. Somewhere between these different approaches, I was looking for a more emotional way of painting, and Francis Bacon became an important clue”.
“Using linen solved many of these problems for me. Unprimed linen has a quality that is somewhat similar to Asian painting on paper, where thin layers of colour are absorbed into the surface rather than simply sitting on top of it”.
Installation view: The Things That Hold Us, Can Sun and Heyo Lee, Mandy Zhang Art 2026
Together, Sun and Lee remind us that the things that hold us are often found in the seemingly ordinary: an object, a relationship, a habit, a memory, or an act of care. Through their distinct visual languages, both artists draw attention to the meanings we attach to the everyday, inviting us to consider the experiences, connections and small gestures that continue to shape and sustain us.
The Things That Hold Us is open till October 3rd, 2026.
To enquire about availability of works please click here.
