Oil Painting and Fine Art
Long-dang Li
Oil on canvas / 60*120 cm
One of the landmarks of Shanghai are “long-dangs”, which are narrow lanes scattered across the bustling city that embody a harmonious fusion of oriental and Western cultures. Born in Shanghai, I inherently embed the essence of long-dangs within my personal memories, considering them indispensable to the city's identity. The title of this piece “Long-dang Li” translates to “in long-dangs”; I want to suggest that these long-dangs, although minuscule, are important to the construction of the culture of the entire city.As you move from left to right, the subject of the painting shifts from children playing in a long-dang to a blurred bird’s eye view of Shanghai. In a conceptual resonance with how the warping of spacetime bends the fabric of the universe, the long-dangs, though modest in physicality, act as fundamental building blocks, shaping the unique charms of the city.
Vertigo
Oil on wooden panel / 30*20 cm
This piece is a depiction of fear and feelings of disorientation, drawing inspiration primarily from the visual dynamics of photography and posterizing effects. In its zoomed-in state, the painting may initially appear as an amalgamation of strips of color, devoid of explicit meaning.In our time, this is symbolic of the relentless influx of information characterizing contemporary existence – news of tragedies, conflict, and social injustice that fills our daily lives. Within this ceaseless deluge, the gravity of these narratives could overwhelm us, leading to a visceral sensation of panic. This is reflected in the visual effect of the painting as the audience steps back to discover a larger, cohesive image. Considering the cumulative implications that individual pieces of knowledge could wield on the psyche, I wish for the audience to take the time to disconnect and recharge as we experience the vertigo of the age of information.
Bouquet of Exploitation
Oil on canvas / 50*40 cm
In the context of consumer culture, this painting is a reflection on the commodification of female appearance, unveiling the concomitant emergence of repressive undercurrents. Rapid industrialization, epitomized by the assembly line’s inexorable march, exerts an overt standardization upon notions of beauty. Consequently, mass aesthetics coalesce, binding into a single, non-inclusive image of women – represented by botanical elements and the homogeneity of the legs. The figures in the painting are enveloped in cloth, emblematic of the insidious coercion exerted by these societal pressures born out of mass media culture. Eventually, individuality subjugates to the overbearing weight of conformity. Through this “bouquet” of suppression, I seek to prompt my audience to contemplate on this lamentable consequence of the prevailing zeitgeist and raise awareness of the struggles that many are experiencing.
Transience
Oil on canvas / 50*40 cm
This piece serves as a snapshot of fleeting moments in life.The tranquility imbued within the painting, though deeply serene, are often elusive to sustained preservation in real life.The stillness depicted in this scene invites the audience to a contemplative space, where the fragility of such peace becomes highly apparent – as if a delicate equilibrium awaiting an imminent disruption, like the possible movement of the glass. Times like these are ubiquitous in all of our lives, and we fail to capture their beauty. I want to take this painting as an opportunity to encapsulate these transient moments and concentrate on the vibrancy of city life that we overlook amid our busy lifestyles. It is only when we take time to truly appreciate our environment that the saturated, animated colors begin to come into focus.
Urbanites
Oil on canvas / 90*60 cm
My impressions of cities seem to be in montages: short and transitory photographs of streets and people. I see myself as an observer, and I often get lost in daydreams about how the lives of the strangers I meet will continue. This painting is an extension of my observations. Images of city-dwellers are forged into each other, as if pieces of fabric sewn together, physicalizing the diversity of life in the city. Each image is a window that unravels a distinct tale and the minutiae of quotidian life. The artistic style of this piece is inspired by Pop Art and the appearance of screen prints, especially how artists utilize highly saturated hues in their works. In“Urbanites”, the cold color scheme expresses not melancholy, but rather a feeling of intimacy and the quietude of overlooked corners of city streets. Through cropped and overlaying scenes, I hope to capture the vibrance of ordinary urbanites.
Mirage
Oil on canvas / 60*120 cm
This piece draws inspiration from the opening sequences of the film “Apocalypse Now” and serves as my personal reflection on our time. The manifestation of war and violence, articulated through the engulfing flames, mingles with the serene jungle in an amalgamation of twisted, swirling streaks of color – a representation of the convergence of chaos and stability. I chose to enshroud the entire scene in a pink fog, a deliberate reference to chemical warfare during the VietnamWar. In our present context, I want to utilize this ephemeral haze as a metaphor for ignorance. The psychedelic and dream-like appearance of this painting is only a deceptive facade, concealing the underlying issues in society that are neglected. Through the painting’s interdisciplinary lens, I seek to dwell on the cyclical nature of conflict and how injustices are often concealed in history.
Nostalgia
Graphite on paper / 42*29.7 cm
Growing up as an urbanite has forged a complex relationship with my rural roots, a dichotomy that persists despite my annual visits to my grandparents. The disorientation I encounter in attempting to assimilate into rural life is accentuated by my immersion in Western education, highlighting the nuanced duality embedded in my identity.This piece serves as an introspective exploration of this interplay between cultures and my reflection on my interaction with traditionalism, symbolized by archetypicallyAsian ceramic roof tiles. Consequently, the fragmented portrait becomes a representation of a broader discourse on the evolving nature of identity in a globalized world.