STILLNESS IN THE ROOM

2023

This body of work manifests a dialectic between order and disorder, encapsulating a fragmentary yet evocative embodiment of memory. Within the carefully orchestrated stillness, a tapestry of existence unfolds, encompassing a diverse of souls interconnected in a web of intricate relationships—friends, strangers, lovers, and enemies. It transcends the boundaries of familiarity, evoking a profound sense of the uncanny while paradoxically resonating with our innermost depths.

Through its exploration of the interplay between contemporary public and private life, this work probes the very essence of communal existence within the broader framework of identity and acknowledgment. It seeks to unravel the enigmatic threads woven between individuals, unveiling the nuances that define their shared reality. Moreover, it navigates the profound space between corporeal movements in the physical realm, thereby exposing the inherent absurdity, ambiguity, and disquietude that accompany such interstitial moments.

In his latest collection of photographic works, Li has brought together a menagerie of glimpses, each plucked from the routines of those closest to him. When siloed, these windows into the lives of friends, fellow artists, and loved ones serve as speculative entry points into individual existences, connected, it seems, only by Li and his camera. However, brought together, not only as images on walls but as alluring points of curiosity, Li’s works duplicate his own sense of community and camaraderie, inviting everyone to join his gathering of those stubborn and romantic people.

Stillness in the Room inviting introspection into the multifaceted nature of our existence. It prompts contemplation on the boundaries that delineate order from chaos, the intricacies of interpersonal bonds, and the transcendent aspects of human experience that flicker between the known and the unfamiliar. In essence, it offers a gateway to a realm where the profound mysteries of life converge with the palpable tangibility of the present, urging us to seek solace, enlightenment, and profound realisations amidst the harmonious discord of our shared journey.