Yibeija Li

YIBEIJIA LI

YIBEIJIA LI, A FORMER ARCHITECT TURNED ARTIST, merges reality with myth, BLENDING Chinese heritage WITH London's urban landscapes. HER ARTWORKS PROMPT REFLECTION ON ecological AND cultural losses, INVITING EXPLORATION OF HIDDEN REALMS.

ARTIST STATEMENT

Yibeijia Li’s practice aims to breathe life into lost things, whether they be lifeforms that have become extinct or ideas that have disappeared from our mental landscapes. Filling gaps in knowledge with speculation and imagined scenarios, she aims to create new mythologies in the contemporary era.

Drawing inspiration from the mountains and the rivers she grew up with in China and the familiar streets of London, from the gardens and riverbanks to the found objects, spans from space and time, Li imagines a world that seeks familiarity in the unfamiliar where reality and myth are both recognised and reimagined. In this envisioned world, objects are not as merely created but as discovered elements of an imagined realm, each narrating a fragment of a larger story.

ARTWORK STATEMENT

Inside - This sculpture piece operates within a context that is increasingly defined by rapid ecological and social changes, and a growing collective nostalgia for lost cultural and natural environments. The relevance of the work weaves new narratives that prompt reflection on the ecological and cultural losses we face.

By The River Fleet In A Rainy Day 1 - This work deals with the concepts of revelation and the desire to explore what lies beneath.Adopting the form of a traditional begonia-shaped vase, envision its voyage after being misplaced by its last possessor, only to be rediscovered by the riverbank decades afterward. In the intervening years, new life has thrived the vase has transformed into a sanctuary for mythical beings, while the vestiges of its past utility faintly linger beneath.

By The River Fleet In A Rainy Day 2 - This work deals with the concepts of revelation and the desire to explore what lies beneath. In this context, I perceive the River Fleet as a metaphorical curtain, veiling layers of history beneath its serene flow, existing unobtrusively beneath the hustle and bustle of our daily existence. The act of uncovering these hidden, imagery-rich artefacts represents the unveiling of a new realm or ecosystem that has flourished unnoticed by the majority.

Could you elaborate on how your extensive background in Architecture influences your approach to art, particularly in your exploration of space and environment?

Architecture is about portraying narrative and experience through space. Doors, windows, roofs, stairs and corridors are the conventional words in its language. Similarly, I perceive my sculptures as vessels for storytelling, each linked to a tangible location. the major difference would be that architecture is destined to change, however my sculptures are more likely to reflect.

Your artist statement mentions a desire to breathe life into lost things and create new mythologies. How do you translate this concept into your artistic process? Also, How does the juxtaposition of natural elements from your upbringing in China with the urban landscapes of London inform the themes and narratives in your work?

I see my sculptures as vessels of memory, bridging the gaps between the past and the present, seen and unseen.

Growing up in China during its rapid transformation, I felt compelled to capture the essence of change, to immortalise moments of transition in tangible form.

The collision of natural landscape with urban development, the juxtaposition of historical context against the backdrop of modernity. Witnessing the intricacy between progress and preservation, I am inspired to explore the fertile in-between spaces where nature and humanity intersect. My memories are deeply intertwined with these ever-changing landscapes, and my creative process reflects this fluidity. Rather than adhering to strict plans, I rely on intuition and post-rationalisation to give form to the envisioned realm.

Your sculpture piece "INSIDE" operates within a context of ecological and social changes. Can you discuss how your art prompts reflection on these contemporary issues? Also, The titles of your artworks, such as "By The River Fleet In A Rainy Day 1" and "By The River Fleet In A Rainy Day 2," evoke specific settings. Could you share how the environment or setting influences your creative process?

The narrative of the project is set on a rainy day after I discovered the fleet near Carmelite Street I then imagine a world where things are reminiscent of London, yet been reinvented and exposed. Straddle sci-fi, artisanal histories, philosophies and mythologies. Ultimately inventing how we humans fit in on Earth today. Even though the scene is set next to the Fleet in London, yet, the finished sculptures also reflect many traces of the Dadu River where I grew up next to.

The river bears a lot of things at the same time it swallows everything up. What is concealed by the flow of water and shifting mud, structures used to mark and marshal the flow are revealed. The making process is evolutionary, whilst working on one piece, ideas develop for the following work. I am always learning and testing the clay. Pieces sometimes take one river element as inspiration, others merge two or more to create composite descriptions of the ever-changing riverbanks and man's intervention.

Your work often deals with the concept of revelation and exploring what lies beneath. How do you translate this exploration into tangible artistic expressions?

I would like to see my sculptures as a snapshot of the moment in time a lot of time I will find things become different when we start to observe them, like driftwood buried in riverbeds, the moment after it has been dug out, the pressure, temperature and exposure to air change everything about the driftwood, what left to observe is the moment of change, the death of one thing became the chance for others to thrive.

How do you see your artistic practice evolving in the future, and are there any new directions or experiments you're eager to explore?

I am fascinated by the natural colour of the clay after the multiple firings, in my next collection I am focusing more on use a combination of different clays to achieve depth of colour and texture.

What role do you believe art plays in addressing ecological and cultural losses, and how do you hope your work contributes to these discussions?

I have been living in the UK for 10 years, my works a lot of time still inspired by the landscape I grew up in. But in this turbulent time, many things changed drastically physically and politically, I found myself stuck right in the middle not exactly here and not even close to there, I guess it also helped me to be more like an observer, at least it the role I am playing for my current collection. And It will evolve later on.

Lastly, could you share any current or upcoming projects you're excited about, and how they tie into your overall artistic vision?

In Buddhism there is a concept of a flower is a world, a leaf is a tree My next project is a collaboration with a chief, and the table is our world. That’s all I can say for now.

ARTIST BIO

YIBEIJIA LI IS A LONDON-BASED ARTIST WITH A BACKGROUND IN architecture. GRADUATED FROM Central Saint Martins IN 2022, SHE HAS WORKED FOR THE DESIGN COLLECTIVE ASSEMBLE, AND CURRENTLY TEACHING AT BA ARCHITECTURE AT CENTRAL SAINT MARTINS. IN HER EVOLVING ART PRACTICE, YIBEIJIA HAS collaborated with the Whitechapel Gallery, AND Tokyo University of the Arts, AND HAD WORK EXHIBITED AT THE Lethaby Gallery THIS YEAR.

REVIEW

Yibeijia Li's artistic journey, grounded in her background in architecture, unfolds as a captivating exploration of space, memory, and cultural intersectionality. In her latest exhibition, Li masterfully intertwines elements of her Chinese upbringing with the bustling urban landscapes of London, resulting in a body of work that is both deeply personal and universally resonant.

One of the most striking aspects of Li's art is her ability to breathe life into lost things, a theme that reverberates throughout her sculptures and installations. Each piece serves as a vessel for storytelling, inviting viewers to immerse themselves in imagined worlds where reality and myth coalesce. By drawing inspiration from her childhood landscapes in China and juxtaposing them with the familiar streets of London, Li creates a sense of displacement and discovery, prompting contemplation on the fluidity of identity and the passage of time.

In her sculpture "INSIDE," Li confronts the contemporary context of ecological and social change, prompting viewers to reflect on the profound losses we face as a society. Through the use of materials such as stoneware and glass, she evokes a sense of nostalgia and longing, urging us to confront the fragility of our natural and cultural heritage.

Similarly, in her works "By The River Fleet In A Rainy Day 1" and "By The River Fleet In A Rainy Day 2," Li delves into the concept of revelation and the desire to uncover hidden truths. Through the imagery-rich artefacts depicted in these pieces, she invites us to explore the unseen layers of history buried beneath the surface of our everyday lives.

In my conversation with Li, she eloquently elaborated on her artistic process and the influences that inform her work. Her deep connection to both Chinese and British cultures is evident in her creative vision, as she navigates the complexities of identity and belonging with grace and introspection.

Overall, Yibeijia Li's exhibition offers a thoughtprovoking journey through landscapes of memory, imagination, and transformation. Her ability to transcend boundaries and bridge disparate worlds speaks to the universal human experience, making her work both relevant and enduring in today's rapidly changing world.