CONNECTING THE PAST WITH THE PRESENT | YUNTING LI

January 29 to April 13, 2025

“My art is a visual journal of self-discovery stitched by needle and threads. It reflects my deep connection to nature and culture, celebrating the beauty and complexity of life. Challenging the conventional view of embroidery as clothing embellishments, I explore its boundless potential for expression and communication. Inspired by ancient Miao embroidery techniques which are used to document history and culture, my abstract ribbon embroidery art series, ‘Ribbon Fantasies’ is a vibrant kaleidoscope of colour, form, texture, and narrative. Each intricate ribbon triangle becomes a fleeting fragment of life’s symphony. Every layer depicts a multifaceted perspective we encounter through life’s ups and downs. I embrace the concept of ‘imperfect perfection’ seeking a harmony that stands between symmetry and asymmetry, randomness, and unplanned layers.

Inspired by the artistry of calligraphy and the evolution of Chinese characters, I aspire to create a connection between past with present through my art series, ‘Story Threads’. By incorporating symbols, calligraphy, and embroidery, these threads aim to capture the fading memories and the rich personal cultural meanings in the form of storytelling. My current art research and practice are focused on the Dongba pictograph, glyphs which have lived since the first century. The simplicity, vividness, and descriptiveness often allow the reader to intuitively understand their meaning which go beyond language barriers. The world is losing languages day-by-day, and I strive to remind us that our unique cultures deserve to flourish in the contemporary world.”

To view a 3D Matterport tour of this exhibition, please click HERE