Beginning in 2025, the Lee Ka-sing and Holly Lee Archive adopted OPUS, a serial system designed as a structured cataloguing method for documenting the photographic works of Holly Lee and Lee Ka-sing by series.
Inspired by the opus numbering system traditionally used in music composition, OPUS assigns a unique identifier to each photographic series or coherent body of work. Unlike its musical counterpart—which typically follows the order of publication—the OPUS Serial System used by Ka-sing and Holly is organized by year of creation, reflecting the working processes and material conditions specific to photography and photo-based practices.
The system follows a hierarchical structure. A primary OPUS number is assigned to each major series (for example, Op.15 for Holly Lee’s Hollian Thesaurus), while secondary identifiers are used to distinguish individual works within a series (e.g., Op.15.1–Op.15.20) or to denote sub-series organized by year (e.g., Op.39.2014, Op.39.2015 for Lee Ka-sing’s Diptych Diary series). This structure allows both clarity and flexibility, accommodating the distinct creative trajectories of the two artists while maintaining a shared and coherent framework.
Each artist maintains an independent OPUS serial system. For instance, Op.15 refers to Hollian Thesaurus in Holly Lee’s archive, while the same number designates Hong Kong Journal in Lee Ka-sing’s archive.
The OPUS Serial System is designed to enable clear identification and reference. When an OPUS number—such as Op.1 or Op.15—is cited, it directly points to a specific body of work. As such, the system functions as a practical and durable tool for scholarly research, archival development, and curatorial use.
Additional References
• Holly Lee OPUS Directory (Photographic Works, 1981-2024)
h.opus.kasingholly.com
• Lee Ka-sing OPUS Directory (Photographic Works, 1976-present)
k.opus.kasingholly.com
• IMAGE BASE
A reference library of selected images from the photographic series of Lee Ka-sing and Holly Lee, organized according to the OPUS Serial System
imagebase.opus.kasingholly.com
The OPUS directories are intentionally maintained as text-based and image-free to ensure clarity, accessibility, and ease of use. The IMAGE BASE serves as a complementary reference library, providing selected visual materials for each series.