THE HERO’S JOURNEY
THE HERO’S JOURNEY is a story we all know well. It’s the story of each and every one of us. It’s a metaphor for the Pain and Love, Joy and Despair, Peaks, Troughs and Plateaus in our lives.
In this series of 5, Mr Lee has created his mythological vision of his most iconic moments in our Hero’s Journey. We follow our young Hero from his humble beginnings in the towering blocks of the Metropolis, to a meeting with the benevolent Goddess in the Cloud Kingdom, through snakes and thorns in the Underworld, between the jaws of the Dragon until he reaches the peace of self-enlightenment.
This is Mr Lee’s genesis NFT collection and each edition is 1-of-1 that comes with its’ own pair of non-fungible trainers, hand-painted by Mr Lee. The collection was showcased at the iconic Nike Town London location in Oxford Circus.
The Hero’s Journey was launched on Foundation (26.11.21) and each of the following parts went live on the platform at two week intervals. Parts 4 & 5 are still available for purchase.
CHAPTER 1 : THE CALL TO ADVENTURE
“A journey of 1000 miles begins with a single step”
- Lao Tzu
A final farewell to our hero’s humble beginnings as he embarks on his mission to find enlightenment through perseverance, persistence and patience. Leaving behind the treacherous enclaves of a dangerous metropolis, our hero looks back one last time before setting off on his quest.
CHAPTER 2 : THE MEETING WITH THE MENTOR
“A boy comes to me with a spark of interest, I feed the spark and it becomes a flame. I feed the flame and it becomes a fire. I feed the fire and it becomes a roaring blaze.”
- Cus D’Amato
Having embarked on his journey, he is at the point of no return, on the brink of leaving his old life and going all-in. A door has opened in his everyday existence and a new world is ahead of him. As he is about to cross the threshold, a friend presents herself with advice and a gift.
chapter 3 : THE ROAD OF TRIALS
“Do not pray for an easy life. Pray for the strength to endure a difficult one”
- Bruce Lee
This is Hell. With gritted teeth, our hero is battling for his life. He is cut, bruised, bleeding, but unrelenting. The odds are against him; all the elements are striving to bury him 6 feet under in an unmarked grave. But his resolve is strong; he knows the sun always shines after the storm.
chapter 4 : THE DRAGON’S LAIR
“Luke, I am your father”
- Darth Vader
Our hero has been caught out at one minute to midnight. Sneaking into the innermost cave, he has been captured by the very dragon he came to kill. It is only then, with his life flashing before his eyes, that he realises that this dragon has no hate for him. In fact, there is mutual understanding and respect between them. Not every dragon needs to be slain. They make their peace and go their separate ways.
CHAPTER 5 : MASTER OF TWO WORLDS
“Knowledge is Freedom”
Miles Davis
Our hero has been hurt and humbled, tried and tested to his limits. He has trudged to the top of the mountain and sunk to the bottom of the ocean. He’s travelled to the end of the world and back again. He is scarred and weather worn but unbroken. His experiences have cleansed his heart and spirit and allowed him to truly know himself. The fear of death has been replaced by the freedom to live.
THE EVENT
On 26.11.21, Mr Lee took over the Sneakers Cube at Nike’s iconic flagship store on Oxford Circus to showcase a private art installation / NFT gallery titled “The Hero’s Journey” to friends, family and media. This comprised of 5 floor-to-ceiling prints of the work that makes up his genesis NFT collection, a display of custom Mr Lee Hero’s Journey Air Force 1s and gifting of Mr Lee x Nike tees, which were printed on demand for guests. The first of the genesis series went live at the event on Foundation and sold immediately.
Over the weekend, the prints were displayed alongside an exclusive members-only Mr Lee customization pop-up which gave a few lucky members access to a 1-on-1 consultation for a pair of hand-painted Mr Lee AF1s.
NON-FUNGIBLE TRAINERS
Each 1-of-1 part of the Hero’s journey sold will be accompanied by a 1-of-1 pair of Non-Fungible Trainers; a bespoke Air Force 1, hand-painted by Mr Lee with the corresponding graphic and colourway, in the auction winner’s size. This artwork will never be reproduced. (Trainers in the images below were painted specifically for the event, and are Mr Lee & his wife’s personal pairs)
the story
Mr Lee is a London-based British-born Chinese visual artist & designer, who specializes in creating his own brand of stylized artwork with a particular focus on faces and characters. He is best known for his work with brands like Nike, Tommy Hilfiger and Selfridges, his black and white portraits, and his ability to draw live on demand in front of an audience.
“The Hero’s Journey” marks Mr Lee’s first steps into not only the the world of NFTs, but also the world of storytelling through his art. In this genesis collection, Mr Lee explores art, culture, colour, space and emotions while taking you on a journey from above the clouds to the bottom of the ocean and back again.
