Artists bring something of themselves to any show they do, but Li Yonggeng takes that more literally than most.Case in point: “A Path to Life,” a two-part exhibition of Li’s work opening in March at Galerie du Monde that aims to combine the artist’s practice and private life.The first part of the exhibition, a continuation of Li’s “Sew” series, will feature his textile paintings, which he creates by slashing open canvases then sewing up the resulting gashes.“Sew” began as a method of art therapy for Li. He would invite friends to slash the canvases during troubled times in their lives, with the hope that the stitching process would go some way toward healing the trauma. “The simplicity and conceptuality of Li’s work elicits a warmth that demonstrates the meditative effect the process of creation has on this artist,” says Galerie du Monde founder Fred Scholle.The second part showcases Li’s “Do” project. For this series, Li makes found-object sculptures from everyday items like rice bowls and chopsticks, as well as installations incorporating items from his home—or wherever he’s staying at a given moment. An installation of Li’s bed, shoes, furniture, and other objects will figure prominently in the Galerie du Monde show.“My use of daily objects reflects the reality and temporality of life, right now,” says Li. “I believe that this simple style of creation can attract other people to become artists.” To this end, the tools used to make Li’s sewn-canvas works will also be displayed as part of the installation, making explicit the links between Li’s art as a function of life and his life as a function of his art.Born in China’s Hunan province, Li Yonggeng has been working on the “Do” and “Sew” series for 20 years. This is the first time, however, that work from either one will be shown in Hong Kong.“A Path to Life” runs March 3-April 19 at Galerie du Monde.
↧
