Magician Space, Beijing (2022)

Sunset as Burning Bruise

Solo Exhibition

Retracing things lost through feelings has been the heart of Li Li Ren’s practice in recent years. To this end, she has envisioned a way of perception of aquatic animals—if the skin understands signals of water flow, perhaps one is able to feel the distant presence of the other more intimately. In other words, when feelings surpass linguistic barriers, they seem to fill the gap in the temporal and spatial disjunction. In terms of the purpose, the absent is made present; regarding the method, one believes in the existence of ineffable feelings.

In Ren’s work, sculpture gradually becomes into a body, and the fragmentary memory of perception comes together, forming a different narrative. Thus, in this exhibition, they evolve into specialised receptors of sensation that await information:

The tongue, hand, belly button, foot, feather, fish, coral, conch...

Imagine how these organs and species that don’t have language communicate with each other in a primitive and equal way, back in a world before language took shape. This perception—one that goes against the course of evolution—disperses, changing form and scale amidst the flowing landscape of sunset.

These sculptures are material proofs or “fossils” of sensations.They are the drive of the artist—I sense you.

Video courtesy of Magician Space