Meet the ceramicist whose artwork symbolizes life, death, and rebirth
Ruth Ju-shih Li, a Taiwanese-Australian ceramic artist, has crafted a 15-meter-long ceramic flower sculpture that's meant to fall apart as viewers watch. The piece, called "Still Life from a Distant Memory - a Winter Study Before Dawn," is an impermanent installation made of unfired clay. As people stroll through the Sydney gallery, they see the fragile stems, leaves, and blossoms crumble, symbolizing life, death, and rebirth.
Inspiration behind Li's ephemeral art
While studying at university, Li started making small clay flower sculptures as a form of meditation. After losing her father and a close friend to cancer, she realized her transient creations embodied universal concepts of life cycles and time's passage. Li shared that she merged her spiritual practice with her art practice. According to her, this made her feel more true to what she wants to communicate.
Universal language in Li's art
To create a universal language in her art, Li avoids using real plants or flower symbolism and keeps the raw clay in its natural hue. She tries to take away as many unnecessary elements as possible so that she can make her ideas reach people more easily, she told South China Morning Post. Despite funding challenges due to traditional collection methods, Li's distinctive approach has caught the eye of curators around the globe.
Exhibitions and workshops
Li's artwork has been displayed in countries like Australia, South Korea, New Zealand, Japan, China, India, Thailand, and Taiwan. She also leads ceramics workshops throughout Asia. From February 2 to 6, Li will conduct workshops at The Living Light Art Studio in Hong Kong. She is also preparing for a solo exhibition in Brisbane, Australia, in May and a residency and exhibition in Thailand during the summer.
Exploring new materials for ephemeral installations
Continually experimenting with new materials for her temporary installations, Li unveiled a wax sculpture in 2023. She expressed interest in working with sugar, inspired by the elaborate candy art found in Taiwanese street markets. Li told SCMP that she would like to explore that next. As she pushes her art form's boundaries, Li's fleeting creations continue to mesmerize viewers and challenge conventional ideas of ceramics.
