Lingling Huang


In China where people’s understanding of art is becoming diversified and the economy is progressing towards industrialisation, we begin to see some so called avant-garde artists integrating with technology with their works.  This represents not only the development in contemporary Chinese art in a multifaceted way, it also signifies that a deep seated revolution driven by technology and art in the ideology in Chinese society.
 
Most of the works by Li Jing, a Chinese artist now residing in France, are expressions through aesthetic and visual perception of her understanding of space and her philosophical analysis on the transformation of spatial awareness.  Her visual plays stimulate the visual sense in an anomalous environment, thus enabling the audience to reflect deeper into reality.  The lighting installation ‘Passage’ being presented at Oriental Vista Gallery uses the peculiar properties of light to transform the exhibition space into another scene, transporting the audience into an alternative space.  This light-based sculptural work obviously bears the characteristics of visual illusions of OP Art.  In fact, it represents much more.  In this interchange of light and shadows, Li Jing is able to show to the audience the existence of the substance called “Light” in this dual space. 

Having been brought up in China, living and studying in Europe for long periods of time, Li Jing’s works are characterise by both western and eastern artistic elements.  Her expressions by installation art is both simple and easily understood, allowing the audience to reflect on its meaning, skilfully using various modes of post-modernistic expressions of the West.   The subtle Zen-ness of her works using light and shadows is perhaps a little westernised.  

At this juncture, light installation art is not familiar in China; but as a post 1980s artist who studied abroad, Li Jing’s works not only highlight her individuality but also her artistic creativity.  It can be said that her works are brilliant flowers in this flourishing green field of art!


6 February 2009, Hong Kong