Jinming Li

About

Jinming Li is an interdisciplinary artist and contemporary craft practitioner whose work explores the intricate connections between individuals, materiality, and the surrounding environment. Born in China and moved to Canada at the age of fifteen, Li’s artistic journey began at OCAD University in Toronto, where he’s trained in Material Art & Design with a focus on contemporary jewelry and metal objects. After graduation, Li joined the artist residency program at Harbourfront Centre, furthering his practice and research in contemporary craft. Over the past five years, Li’s practice has evolved, delving into the dynamic interactions between abstract concepts and tangible materials, and the interplay between the immaterial and the material. This evolution is rooted in a diverse creative journey, from initial endeavours in drawing and photography to the realms of digital media and material art. Li’s visual expressions serve as vital tools for documenting surroundings and seeking creative inspiration, while also enhancing personal understanding of the external world.

Growing up in the digital age, Li has witnessed the rapid development of technology and its profound impact on our perception of reality. The prevalence of the internet, digital media, video games, social media, and virtual reality has shaped public perceptions and diminished direct engagement with the real world. Li’s artistic methodology involves capturing real-world objects and creating digital representations, which are then transformed through computational and algorithmic processing. This technique echoes philosophical concepts explored in the work “Simulacra and Simulation” by Jean Baudrillard and “The Society of the Spectacle” Guy Debord, challenging the authenticity of digital replicas and questioning the nature of representation and reality in the context of contemporary media and technology. The culmination of this process is a sculptural installation that blends digital and physical forms, exploring themes of digital mythology and societal dependency on technology.

The final installation draws inspiration from Gothic cathedral architecture and incorporates a complex, symmetrical structure that combines natural elements with digital transformations. Accompanied by a sixteen-minute video and a commissioned soundscape, the installation creates a disjointed, immersive visual and auditory experience that critiques the public’s obsession with hyperreality and the resulting alienation from direct experiences. Li’s artistic practice emphasizes the phenomenon of emergence, where simple entities interact to form complex structures, reflecting the intricate interplay between different elements in their work. Through this interdisciplinary approach, Li’s art transcends media, offering a profound commentary on contemporary society and the evolving relationship between technology and reality.