YIHAO LI
© Yihao Li 2025. All rights reserved.Statement of Practice
As the ancient Greek philosopher Aristotle asserts, "Matter yearns for form." Intrigued by the raw, formless nature of found objects, I seek to establish a profound connection with the human body and materials, preserving their inherent qualities.
As an artist, my works serve as sequences of gestures following from one another empirically, without prescription or closure. There is a suggestion of time-lapse in the development of the forms as I explore, which has been a subject of contemplation.
My practice spans drawing, sculpture, and installation art, which lies in a fascination with the interplay between form and material, infused with a keen interest in integrating Oriental languages into my work. I employ a diverse array of materials to interpret and translate the concept of the erased body within the realm of pre-empirical knowledge.
Ultimately, my works embody a symbiotic relationship between form, materiality, and cultural identity, serving as a testament to the ongoing exploration of artistic expression and the complexities of human existence.
Yihao, also known as Leonard, is a Chinese-born visual artist, researcher, and educator in Glasgow, UK. His creative practice encompasses drawing, sculpture, and installation art, with a focus on East Asian art, Orientalism, and an interest in the interplay between form and material. Start with a question about the physicality and three-dimensionality of sculpture, which necessarily invoke bodily relations – even in the most patently abstract of sculptures. His work employs a diverse array of materials to interpret and translate the concept of the erased body within the realm of pre-empirical knowledge.