Sculptural Ceramic 'Fashion' & Art by Philip Li
on 17/7/10
The Trend Boutique have recently been introduced to the work of Philip Li, a young London-based artist, who has a strong multi-disciplined approach to his work, which is a fusion of performance, ceramics and fashion. Naturally challenging the assumed limitations & placement of ceramics, he uses iconic signs & symbols seen in the world of haute couture to construct a sense of personal identity, which are then translated into the components for his ceramic pieces.
His body-sculptures masquerade as clothing and are a focal point to the construction of the archetypal 'masculine' ideals, whether it be adorning his body with Grecian draping, weighty armour, or The Power Suit, Philip Li plays with a central theme of gender and identity.
'The Statue' Series: Constructed (2009) Black and white medium format photographs featuring ceramic stoneware sculpture.Editions of 5.
'The Statue' Series. (2009) Black and white medium format photographs featuring ceramic stoneware sculpture. Editions of 5.
Li’s ceramics are meticulously crafted body sculptures, whose true meaning is only revealed when captured within the fleeting moment of a photograph. The objects are given new life by displacing them from their traditional realm as an autonomous tactile object, and presenting them within the new world of fantasy.
'The Statue' Series: Urban. (2009) Black and white medium format photographs featuring carved ceramic stoneware sculpture.Editions of 5.
'The Statue' Series: Urban
(2009) Black and white medium format photographs featuring carved ceramic stoneware sculpture.Editions of 5.
Li also worked on the interactive art installation called 'POP-ME-UP', an installation that allows anyone to advertise anything for a pound per day. Those who wished to advertise got a 15 centimetre grid/square and within it they could sell anything they wanted. The piece was part of a collaboration with friends Carl Guuilhon, Chirs King and Joel Stephens for the 'This is Why we Meet', and again had a central theme this time of interactivity with an audience, using public participation.
'The Commuter' series. (2009) Black and white medium format photographs featuring various ceramics sculptures in stoneware and paperclay.Editions of 5.
'The Commuter' series. (2009) Black and white medium format photographs featuring various ceramics sculptures in stoneware and paperclay.Editions of 5.
Recent exhibitions and performances have been held at the British Ceramics Biennial and at Tate Modern in collaboration with London Drawing. Li has also produced work for Wieden + Kennedy, London and White Cube, and contributes to Wallpaper* Magazine.
Most recently Li worked on 'A Broken Part', a multi-disciplinary, emotional and moving piece about displacement and on how it feels to not belong. 'A Broken Heart' tells the story of a Portuguese saint, Elizabeth of Portugal, that goes out into the streets to care for the workers and feed the people. Legend says that one day she was caught by her husband leaving the house, whilst hiding bread in her apron. She lied to him, telling him it was roses she was carrying and when she opened the apron the bread had been transformed into roses. Li created the sculptures and costumes for the piece.
The Trend Boutique look forward to seeing more of this ceramic artist and we are not the only ones that see a rise in more conceptual ceramics, with Philip Li's recent article for influential Wallpaper* magazine completing a feature in April this year as part of an article on the 'Rise of Conceptual Ceramics'. Its great to see this fine artist gaining recognition for pushing the boundaries of this more traditional craft and also this medium being used in an new & exciting way.
