Yibei Liu

"Untitled 5 Buff, glazed stoneware This sculpture marks my first ambitious attempt at a large-scale work since graduation, continuing my exploration of complex emotions and the human condition. After enduring months of failed glazing experiments and dissatisfaction with form, this piece starkly embodies the profound helplessness I faced during its creation. The transition from student to professional artist has been an arduous journey, with metaphor remaining central to my work. During these challenging months, I realized that the vivid, chaotic ideas bubbling in my mind often deteriorate into a black, amorphous “liquid” when subjected to the relentless test of time. The blue glaze on the hands, forearms, and legs symbolizes the sensory paralysis induced by uncertainty, while I find myself powerless even as I grasp these decayed, blackened ideas. The creative process is frequently a tumultuous interplay of surprises and disappointments, setbacks and the exhilaration of problem-solving. Yet, I had never fully contemplated—or even been aware of—the evolving relationship between myself and the finished piece. This work, I believe, not only exposes the emotional struggles inherent in creation and the survival of the artist but also signifies a shift in my understanding of the dynamic between the creator, the work in progress, and the completed artwork."

"Untitled 1 White stoneware, glazed stoneware This artwork marks my first departure from focusing solely on exploring emotions to examining human behavior within today's societal framework. A monstrous figure, representing those in positions of power and capital, stands over a sea of people depicted in agonizing, hanging postures. This portrays those excluded from privilege yet relentlessly chasing after it. Creating this piece made me reflect on whether a lifetime pursuit isn't just following in the footsteps of others without real progress—a stagnant state of mechanical pursuit. The multiple-faced head appeared in my previous works, however in this artwork symbolize not just chaotic thoughts as I previously explored, but the overwhelming influx of information thrust upon us, akin to an insatiable monster looming tall. This metaphorical shift also reflects the rapid evolution of my ideas in artistic creation and my desire to encourage viewers to take more time to independently interpret a piece before embracing the artist's perspective."

"A vivid memory from the early days of my third year centers around a question my professor posed: ""What is your defining trait?"" At the time, I struggled to grasp the essence of this inquiry. After the lecture, the question lingered, gradually unveiling an unsettling truth. I realized that I had been mimicking others, attempting to ""borrow"" fragments of their personalities and awkwardly weave them into my own. My sense of self began to resemble a puzzle composed of scattered pieces from different people—pieces that never fully aligned. I felt compelled to adopt these traits, as if by doing so, I could carve away parts of my own identity. In truth, this process produced an effect akin to the rejection seen in cross-species organ transplants, where the system is thrown into disarray. I found myself trapped in a state of confusion and fragmentation, much like the liminal space before sleep, where it is difficult to distinguish between conscious imagination and the free flow of unconscious thought. I could no longer discern which parts of me were authentic and which were the blood-stained fragments I had torn from others. Now, I no longer resist this process. It cannot be dismissed as purely pathological or mistaken; rather, it is an essential phase in the ""breaking and reshaping"" of one’s identity. The act of reshaping is no less arduous than the breaking itself; it brings with it the agony of waiting. When I think about the process of creating this sculpture, I’d describe the feeling it captures as ""waiting to find the right puzzle pieces."" But when I step away from the act of making, it feels more like ""waiting to adjust to the reshaping, so that renewal can take place."""

"Untitled 3 White stoneware, galzed stoneware Throughout its creation, I kept recalling the time I came to London, and experienced depression for the first time. That period felt like a literary scene where ""the sky is always gray."" Depression and sadness arrived without reason, as if they were the key to opening the door to adulthood, more like a cloud gathering overhead. Looking back at my panicked self after gradually learning to coexist with these emotions, I realized that the cloud was merely a void I had created, obscuring all the light. But these are what shaped who I am today. I coiled up a fragment of my past self to commemorate."

"Untitled 10 Terra cotta, glazed stoneware Puzzles serve as a metaphor for the various traits and characteristics that make up one's personality. At times, one might feel as though they've lost or are attempting to change certain pieces of themselves. This process can be torturous, as forcing continual changes to one's personality can lead to a sense of being fragmented or broken before one even realizes it. Each piece is integral, and altering them too forcefully can result in a loss of identity and internal cohesion."