Connection
Plastic materials，2023
In the Unit 1 project, I am committed to conveying the concept of "ideal" to the audience through visual means, so as to inspire them to face life with a positive attitude. In order to achieve this goal, I explored the expression of light and shadow in the creative process, especially how light and shadow interact and reflect under the medium of different materials to create a visual effect that symbolizes "ideal".
In the experiment, I tried a variety of materials and gradually realized the uniqueness of transparent materials in reflection and refraction. Transparent materials can not only capture and project light, but also produce a smart visual effect when light penetrates through their medium properties. This visual effect forms an "ideal" image that is both concrete and abstract in the audience's sight, as if it is within reach, but it shows uncontrollable characteristics in subtle changes, which fits the multiple levels of ideals.
The choice of transparent materials is not only a formal aesthetic exploration, but also a symbolic metaphor. The soft or sharp light and shadow effects generated by transparent materials between light and shadow not only reveal the purity and thoroughness of ideals, but also imply the complex relationship between ideals and reality. Through this visual expression of light and shadow, the audience can experience the fragility and tenacity, desire and distance of ideals, and thus trigger reflection on their own ideals in life.
It's the End and It's the Beginning, Qianyi Liu, light installation on plastic materials,2024 (1-3)
In Unit 2, I continued my exploration of transparent materials reflecting light and shadow, focusing on making sculptures with transparent materials. Although the theme has changed, transparent materials provide viewers with an extraordinary visual experience through the refraction and reflection of light. However, entering Unit 3, I gradually shifted the focus of my research from the form of the sculpture to its light and shadow effects. This is because although I strive to be realistic in shaping the sculpture form, it is always difficult to surpass the audience's existing cognition of the invisible characteristics of fire. At the same time, the use of transparent materials may also cause misunderstandings among some viewers, mistaking it for a symbol of "water".
Therefore, my exploration in Unit 3 turned to the study of the perception of "fire". I rooted this research perspective in my personal experience, starting from the warmth and intimacy I felt in the firelight. This impression of firelight coincides with the light and shadow effects of my previous sculptures, which made me want to create a scene like sitting around the firelight in Unit 3. This is not only a visual experience, but also a psychological interaction, allowing the audience to feel the atmosphere of fire between light and shadow, and then trigger emotional resonance with fire as a symbol.
the Monument 2024, Qianyi Liu, light installation on plastic sculpture, photography, 2024