Artist Li Lihong shares insights into the relationship between tradition and modernity in contemporary Chinese art through his work in NGV Triennial. In Lihong’s work, recognisable imagery of ubiquitous global brands Disney, Apple and McDonalds are transformed into ceramic works that represent the artist’s own grappling with the push and pull of tradition and the allure of modernity. Join the artist in conversation with NGV Curator of Asian Art Wayne Crothers.
About the speakers
Li Lihong was born in 1974 in Jingdezhen, Jiangxi Province, which has been the premier place of porcelain production for hundreds of years in China. Li graduated from the Central Academy of Arts and Crafts in 1996 (now the Academy of Arts & Design, Tsinghua University). In 2005, he received his master’s from the Jingdezhen Ceramic Institute. Li has been exploring the influence of western pop art and consumer culture by employing traditional Chinese porcelain. After years of creating all his sculptural works by hand, he recently started experimenting with 3D printing ceramics. He incorporated cutting-edge technology into his practice, creating artworks with new possibilities while testing its limitations.
Wayne Crothers is Senior Curator, Asian Art at the National Gallery of Victoria.