Description

A Sea of Three Suns III continues Jennifer Lee’s conceptual exploration of an imagined world illuminated by three different suns. Like A Sea of Three Suns II, the painting does not depict an actual seascape but an abstract inner landscape, where water becomes a metaphor for human consciousness and emotion. Within this imagined space, light emerges as a force capable of transforming despair, perception, and the inner state of being. The three suns are not celestial bodies but symbolic sources of light, each possessing its own presence and meaning. Seen from beneath the surface of the water, their light is transformed through reflection, refraction, and movement, creating a constantly shifting visual experience. Rather than describing physical reality, the painting explores how different qualities of light shape perception and alter emotional space. The movement from darkness toward illumination also reflects an inner transition from despair toward recognition and renewed awareness. Created with oil paint and UV-reactive pigments, the work unfolds through two interconnected visual layers. Under ordinary illumination, flowing gestures, luminous colors, and layered textures evoke the fluid interaction between water and multiple light sources. Under ultraviolet light, another hidden image gradually emerges, revealing an invisible dimension that coexists with the visible one. Together, these two realities expand the painting beyond a single visual experience and reinforce Lee’s growing interest in the boundaries between what is visible and what remains unseen. A Sea of Three Suns III became particularly significant in the development of Jennifer Lee’s artistic practice because it established the conceptual foundation for her later I See You series. The final words of the artist’s note, “Now I can see you,” mark a transition from an inward journey through darkness, fear, and consciousness toward the act of seeing and recognizing another presence. From this work onward, seeing gradually became more than an act of visual perception in Lee’s practice. It developed into a means of recognizing existence beyond appearances and questioning what may remain invisible within the visible world. This idea would become central to the I See You series and would continue to evolve through her later exploration of light, perception, and invisible realities.