Mixing references that reflect his upbringing in the U.K. but as a member of the Chinese diaspora, Qijun Li’s art revolves around ideas of consumption of experience. Painting in a very distinctive style that feels very current, he elegantly depicts plum blossom, roses, dim sum, the moon, it’s all about the shared experiences of people. This could be a cultural experience or even a digital one. But most importantly, what interests him the most is the link between people.
Qijun's interest in art was born from an initial language barrier. When he first moved to the UK as a very young child, he didn’t know a single word of English. But he found solace and communication in art. ‘To me,’ he explains’, ‘it was easier to just draw. Excuse the cliché but a picture truly speaks a thousand words. In my opinion, it’s the universal language.’ While he has moved past fixating on ever-expanding omnipresence of the digital, as he is a member of ‘generation Y,’ and has grown up surrounded by technology, it will always be prevalent in his work. Just like it’s deeply ingrained it is to our everyday lives.
UNAVAILABLE
Original painting
Oil & Acrylic on canvas, 2020
60 x 70 cm
Includes Certificate of Authenticity
Deriving his imagery from popular culture, he represents the world we live in, in the form of figurative painting, looks for collectivity. In this way, he analysis the meaning and role of objects within the consumption of experiences. Deconstructing the meaning of all things is very much a postmodernist attitude, which emerged toward 1980. Since that time, artists and creatives started to ask more overtly and persistently: How do words and images acquire meaning? What is the message? Who originates it? What and whose purpose does it serve? Who is the audience and what does this tell us about the message?
SOLD
Original painting
Oil & Acrylic on canvas, 2020
60 x 70cm
Includes Certificate of Authenticity
In the end, artists, critics, curators, writers and philosophers tried to come up with it came to the conclusion that there is no final answer. By denying any one interpretation, Postmodern theory destroyed the credibility of the authoritarian hierarchies of styles, mediums, issues, and themes, and it opened the door for everything and everyone. By bringing together experiences of himself and others, Qijun's works reflect this postmodern world.
UNAVAILABLE
Original painting
Oil, Airbrush & Acrylic on canvas, 2020
90 x 120cm
Includes Certificate of Authenticity
Follow Qijun on his instagram.
Artwork photographs courtesy of the artist. Portraits taken by Alina zum Hebel (website/ instagram). Photography courtesy of where’s the frame? and Alina zum Hebel.
where’s the frame? - ‘Lick the Future’ is a collection of London vanguards comprising of 6 artists that are making waves. The collection will be available from December 2020 until the end of January 2021.
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