Chinese surrealist explores the animal within

A lizard with a human face and a bunch of pigs prancing around in fancy dresses are just a couple of the surreal images that make up a new exhibition combining the art of digital photography and the imagination of Daniel Lee, the man behind the show at Tangrams Art Space at M50.

Lee is a Chinese-American artist based in New York. Since 1992, the 64-year-old has been creating digital images that blur the line between animals and humans.

On display at the gallery are a collection of his representative pieces from the past six years. It is the first time Lee has held an exhibition in Shanghai since 2006, when he created a project for the Shanghai Biennale called "Nightlife/Xintiandi" featuring 'party animals' in the widely popular bar and restaurant area.

Lee first stumbled upon the idea of altering human facial features with digital technology to make them resemble animals when he was angling for a project that incorporated elements of the Chinese zodiac.

"We Chinese have always believed that someone's horoscope is connected with that person's personality, and even his appearance. For example, if a man was born in the year of pig, and he looks like a pig, then he is destined to prosper," Lee said. "Such beliefs are common among Chinese worldwide."