Interviewer:Tell us a little bit about yourself
Li Ming (hereinafter referred to as Li):Since childhood, I love painting, and I actually learned decoration design in the entrance examination, but painting is my life, as a believer in painting, I have not given up, and I have learned the first experience.
My artistic practice is mainly focused on ink and mixed media art. I am convinced that art is a language that expresses human emotions and thoughts, and that this language can be expressed through a variety of different mediums and materials. Therefore, in my practice, I try to use different ink + materials and techniques to explore and innovate, so as to express a more profound artistic concept.
Li Ming's work. Ruoshui series [empty step dripping to the light].
200x200cm nine sheets.
Ink mixed media.
In my ink paintings, I pay attention to expressing the charm and layering of ink colors, and lead the original two-dimensional imitation of three-dimensional space perspective to make a sense of order in front and back of plane opposites to strengthen the graphic content, and create a unique visual effect through the combination of different ink colors and paper. At the same time, I also try to integrate the concepts and techniques of Western contemporary art into my ink paintings, thus expanding the boundaries of ink art and forming a new artistic context.
In the exploration of mixed media art, I try to integrate different materials and techniques into my works, such as acrylic, metal, PVC, and so on. The use of these materials makes my work more colorful, and at the same time, it can express a more profound artistic concept.
Art is a kind of human creative activity with unique value, which can not only convey the author's inner emotions and thoughts, but also have a positive impact on the audience. Therefore, I pay attention to expressing my inner feelings and thoughts in my creation, and resonate and communicate with the audience through my artworks.
Artistic cognition is to lead the exploration ...... of ink and comprehensive materialsThe formal logic of the meaning of the ......
Li Ming's work. Ruoshui series [empty mountain new rain].
200x200cm nine sheets.
Ink mixed media.
Interviewer:When did you first want to become an artist?Is the process still going well?Is the family supportive?
Lee:Wanting to become an artist may be the belief of every art worker, of course, becoming a well-known artist is a dream, in fact, as a real artist, it really doesn't matter whether you become an artist or not, what matters is how happy it would be if you could always engage in art.
I would like to thank all my family members and all my teachers for supporting me at all times and in all places, from my youth to the present, I have grown up in my own way in the art of tinkering.
Li Ming's work. Ruoshui series [Qing Ming Lu Shui].
200x200cm nine sheets.
Ink mixed media.
Interviewer:Now **life, work?
Lee:Now I work and live in Jinan, where there are mountains, rivers and saints, which nourish my nourishment for the pursuit of art, and my teaching work also has important guiding significance for my understanding of the times and fashion concepts.
Li Ming's work. Ruoshui series [Water He Tuan].
200x200cm nine sheets.
Ink mixed media.
Interviewer:What is the proposition or direction that you are most concerned about in your artistic creation right now?
Lee:In artistic creation, the proposition or direction that I am most concerned about at present is the integration of nature and humanity. Art is a way to express understanding and emotions about nature and the human world. By combining natural and human elements, I can create works that are meaningful and aesthetically pleasing, while also provoking the viewer to think and feel about the natural and human world.
In my work, the generation of all things and the flow of the seasons are themes that I am very concerned about. Nature is an ecosystem that is constantly changing and evolving, and humans are a part of it. By depicting the generation of all things and the flow of the four seasons, we can express our awe for nature and our appreciation for life. For example, in the "All Things Alive" series, I try to show the vitality and vitality of life by depicting the growth of plants and the reproduction of animals. In the "Four Seasons Series", I express my praise for nature and reverence for life by depicting the changes and scenes of the four seasons.
Li Ming's work. Ruoshui series [no wind goggles on the surface of the pool].
200x200cm nine sheets.
Ink mixed media.
In addition to the theme of nature, I also pay great attention to the use of humanistic elements in artistic creation. Art is a means of displaying human emotions and thoughts. By incorporating humanistic elements into my work, I can create works with more depth and connotation. For example, in the Heart Sutra series, I try to express the exploration of the inner world of human beings and the pursuit of wisdom by depicting some of the core ideas and philosophies in the Heart Sutra. In the "Boundaries Series", I show the diversity and commonality of the human world by depicting the differences and commonalities between different perceptions and cultures.
In addition to this, I also try to integrate different artistic styles and forms of expression into my work to explore more artistic possibilities. For example, in the "Sanskrit Series", I try to integrate some core ideas and symbols from Buddhism into my works to express my understanding and exploration of Eastern culture.
Li Ming's work. All things are born series [Waiting for Spring].
76 33 cm ink on paper.
Interviewer:There are many forms of artistic expression and media, so why do you still choose the way of painting?
Lee:There are many forms of artistic expression and a wide variety of mediums. In this day and age, painting is one of the most intuitive forms of artistic expression. Painting can directly express the feelings and emotions of the author, and convey them to the audience through the picture. The audience can directly feel the content and emotions that the author wants to express through the painting, which is very infectious and empathetic. At the same time, painting is also an effective way to record history and culture, which can record human civilization and history, so that future generations can better understand and recognize this history and culture.
Secondly, painting has a unique aesthetic value. The delicate, soft and elegant characteristics of painting allow people to feel a sense of beauty that cannot be replaced by other art forms when using painting as a form of expression. For example, the elegant, fresh, and simple characteristics of ink painting allow people to feel a sense of transcendent beauty when appreciating it, and allow people to find a sense of tranquility and relaxation in their busy modern life.
Li Ming's work. All things are born series [Yijing].
100cmx100cm ink on paper.
In addition, painting requires the author to have a certain amount of skill and talent in order to be able to create an excellent work. This skill and talent can make the work more vivid, vivid, more expressive and artistically valuable. Therefore, painting is a form of expression that also has a certain degree of professionalism and uniqueness, which requires professionals and artists to engage in and create.
Although easel painting has declined to a certain extent, it still has a certain value and significance. It focuses on expressing the author's personal emotions and inner world, so that the audience can feel the author's emotions and inner world through the work. Although this form of expression is no longer popular in this day and age, it still has a certain historical and cultural value, which allows people to better understand and recognize the development process and cultural background of this art form.
Painting is a form of expression that has a variety of advantages and characteristics, which makes it still widely concerned and loved in the field of art. Although there are more and more choices of media, painting is still a form of expression that has irreplaceable value and significance. That's why I love painting.
Li Ming's work. All things are born series of paintings [The Light of Life Dances Number Nine].
200×350cm
Diptych ink on paper.
Interviewer:How relevant do you think your work is to yourself and how inseparable it is from your past or present experiences?
Lee:I have always believed that there is an inseparable connection between my work and myself. My profession is design education, but I also work as a designer. In my opinion, design and painting are inseparable, and they share similar qualities and requirements in many ways.
First of all, both design and painting require a certain formal language and professionalism. In design education, I focus on cultivating students' formal language and design concepts, so that they can express their design ideas in professional language and ways. Similarly, in painting, artists also need to master certain painting skills and formal language in order to better express their creative intentions.
Li Ming's work "All Things Born Series" [Firmament].
100x100cm ink on paper.
Secondly, my research and obsession with painting are also closely linked to my profession. I often use drawings to explore the elements and details of my designs as a way to improve my design. At the same time, I also incorporate the techniques and techniques of painting into my designs, making my designs more distinctive and personalized.
The diversity and inclusivity of painting also aligns with my professional philosophy. I firmly believe that everyone has their own unique creativity and artistic expression, and design and painting are both a way to express oneself and convey information. The idea of mutual borrowing from design and painting works produces interesting visible drawings that enrich the work. I believe that only through continuous exploration and practice can I continuously improve my design level and artistic quality, and make my works more unique.
Li Ming's work. All things are born series [ink rhyme].
180×240cm
Quadruple ink on paper.
Interviewer:What is the most challenging part of the creative process so far?Which parts are easy for you?
Lee:The most challenging part of my current creative process is grasping the material. Although I work with traditional paper and ink, I want to create new forms of expression by using alternative tools. This process is very challenging because it requires me to constantly try new methods and techniques, while also maintaining a sensitivity to materials and innovation in the form of expression.
The relatively simple part is the presentation and form. I am usually able to use visual language to express my thoughts and feelings with relative ease. For example, by using elements such as lines and shapes, I can create my own art style and express the emotions and themes I want to express.
Although it was challenging for me to grasp both the material and the form of expression, it was the most important part of the creative process. Only through continuous experimentation and cognition can we continuously improve our skills and abilities and create more unique and expressive works.
I also think it's very important for an artist to maintain a sensitivity to materials and an exploration of expression. This allows us to constantly try new methods and skills, so as to expand our artistic language and expression ability, and the expression of ideas should still work the artistic language, so as to make the artwork more in-depth.
Li Ming's work. All things are born series [Leftover Mountain Map].
99x99cm ink on paper.
Interviewer:Does your art focus on the process rather than the end result?Or is it always the final work that matters most?
Lee:Art, the word has many different understandings and definitions. For me, art is a way of expressing and exploring human emotions, ideas, and culture, and it can be visual arts, theater, film, and more. Whether art is about the process or the end result, the answer is that it matters.
For some artists, art is a process of exploration and experimentation. They focus on thinking, feeling, and experiencing in the creative process. They usually spend a lot of time and energy on ideating, creating, and revising, rather than just focusing on the final product. These artists believe that what is truly art is what is thought, feel, and experience in the creative process.
Others focus more on the final work. They believe that the key to art is in the final presentation of the work, not what happens in the creative process. They usually spend a lot of time and effort on the details to ensure that the final piece is as perfect as possible. These artists believe that the true value of art lies in the work that is presented in the end, rather than in the thoughts, feelings, and experiences in the creative process.
In my opinion, art is both about the process and about the end result. Art is a way of expressing and exploring human emotions, thoughts, and culture, and it entails thinking, feeling, experiencing, and presenting. In the creative process, the artist needs to think and explore in order to create the final work. And after the creation is completed, the final work needs to be able to present and express the artist's thoughts and emotions.
The true value of art lies in the combination of the creative process and the final work. Thinking, feeling, and experiencing in the creative process can help artists better understand their thoughts and emotions, so that they can better express and present. The final work needs to perfectly present the artist's thoughts and emotions in order to be better understood and appreciated by the audience.
For me, the true value of art lies in its ability to express and explore human emotions, ideas, and culture. Art is a way of communicating, and it requires thinking, feeling, experiencing, and presenting. In the creative process, I focus on thinking and exploring in order to better understand my thoughts and emotions. And after the creation is completed, I focus on the final work to make sure that it perfectly presents my thoughts and emotions.
Art focuses on both the process and the end result. It needs to think, feel, experience, and present. For me, the true value of art lies in its ability to express and explore human emotions, ideas, and culture.
Li Ming's work. All things are born series [early spring].
100x38cm ink on paper.
Interviewer:What are your criteria for judging that a piece of work has been completed?
Lee:The completion of a work is a relatively subjective concept, so it is difficult to have a universally applicable standard. The definition of "done" may vary from person to person and from field to field. The criteria for the completion of the work will vary from person to person and from field to field. However, most of the criteria relate to the achievement of goals, time and resource constraints, quality, and feedback and evaluation. If the work meets the expected standards in these respects, then the work can be considered complete.
Interviewer:As one of the members of the Library Art Creation Workshop, the words of the instructor impressed you and inspired your creation and development
Lee:As a member of the Library Art Creation Workshop, I often recall the teachings of my mentor Ma Shuqing, and the most impressive thing for me is his sentence "Painting is a state". This sentence not only had a profound impact on my personal creation, but also played an important role in inspiring my personal artistic development.
This sentence of Tutor Ma Shuqing emphasizes that painting is not only a technique or form, but also a mental state and emotional experience. This state encompasses the painter's inner state, the flow of emotions, and the interaction between the painter and the medium of canvas, paint, and brush. Paintings in this state are not only visual presentations, but also externalized of the painter's inner world, and are concrete expressions of emotions and thoughts.
Li Ming's work. Realm Series [Green Water, Green Mountain]-2
100×100cm
Ink mixed media.
This sentence inspired me because it gave me a deeper understanding of the essence and meaning of painting. In my creative process, I began to pay more attention to my inner state, trying to express my inner emotions and thoughts through the brush. I began to pay more attention to the experimental and contemporary nature of painting, trying to express my perception and thinking about the real world through different painting media and techniques.
In my personal works, I often use the technique of abstract painting, trying to express my personal emotions and thoughts through the combination of color blocks, lines and shapes. Through my work, I hope to take the audience into a visual and emotional journey that resonates and thinks.
Li Ming's work. Realm Series [Green Water, Green Mountain]-1
100×100cm
Ink mixed media.
Interviewer:How has your practice evolved over time after the workshop?
Lee:During the library art creation workshop, I learned a lot about the unknowns and skills related to art, including time, space, boundaries, and so on. These skills and knowledge have an important impact on my subsequent practice. After the workshop, I didn't start practicing right away, but took some time to think and plan first.
First, I started reading more art books and literature in order to gain a deeper understanding of the historical, theoretical, and cultural context of art. Through these readings, I gradually discovered areas that I was more interested in, such as contemporary art, fashion and design, as well as tradition and texts. These areas are also more in line with my personal characteristics and interests.
Second, I began to look at my own practice more rationally. In my previous artistic creations, I relied more on my own perceptual thinking and emotions, and ignored the importance of rational thinking and planning. These methods help me to better organize my ideas and plans, so that I can better realize my ideas.
I also started to pay more attention to expressive expression. Expressiveness refers to the ability to express the emotions, thoughts, and feelings of the author through the work. How to express your emotions and thoughts through different art forms and techniques, such as through color, shape, line, etc. Through more in-depth study and practice, I have discovered that expressiveness is a very important part of artistic creation.
The experience of the library art workshop has had an important impact on my subsequent practice. The rational and expressive approach to art creation has made me wiser and more confident.
The scene of Li Ming's ink painting exhibition.
Shandong Provincial Cultural Center elegant gathering space.
Interviewer:What are your new creative ideas or exhibition projects planned in the near future?
Lee:Recently, I have been thinking about how to combine technology and art to create more innovative and interactive works. Recently, we have been exploring new creative fields and forms of expression, hoping to bring you a richer and more interesting artistic experience through these new creative ideas. I also call on Xiaku Art to hold a contemporary art exhibition such as a biennale that has an impact at the moment, and it also allows us loyal fans to express themselves.
*: Library art).
Artist Profile
Li Ming (Akashi).
Master of Fine Arts from Shandong Academy of Arts, associate professor of Shandong Youth Political College, executive director of Shandong Academy of Painting and Calligraphy of the Peasants and Workers Party, invited member of the Contemporary Art Committee of Shandong Artists Association, member of Jinan Artists Association, researcher of the American East-West Art Society, and president of the Beidou Art Alliance.
He leads the exploration of ink and comprehensive materials, and tastes the formal logic of meaning.