This conversation opens the sixth interview in the series ‘Defining Moments: The First Start or the Turning Moment’. We meet Ariel, a spatial artist from London, whose work explores the connections between space, identity, and perception. Ariel's journey began with a pivotal project in Beijing, where the challenges of creating in an abandoned building led to a deeper understanding of art's vitality. This experience shaped Ariel's identity, emphasizing the importance of tactile engagement and the essence of creation.
Balancing a career in interior design with artistic pursuits, Ariel has expanded their practice through theater and arts festivals, finding a clearer direction and embracing exploration as a means to live through art. Influenced by artists like Anish Kapoor and Olafur Eliasson, Ariel strives to create pieces that resonate with a primal force, connecting with audiences in a direct and visceral way.
Currently, Ariel is developing an immersive sound and light installation, pushing the boundaries of artistic expression. Looking ahead, Ariel is excited about becoming a multidisciplinary artist, exploring new ideas and uncharted territories. Ariel's message to future artists is one of resilience and passion, embracing the solitude and silence that often accompany the pursuit of art.
This interview has been carefully edited to preserve Ariel's reflective voice and genuine perspective. Now, in the artist’s own words.
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Q. Thank you very much for taking the time to speak with us. I'd love to begin by hearing about you and your practice. How would you introduce yourself as an artist, and what work are you currently engaged with?
A. My name is Ariel, a spatial artist based in London. My artistic practice explores the connections between space, identity, and perception. My work primarily investigates spatial narratives and how human senses shape our understanding of physical spaces and objects.
The mediums I use include installations, sculptures, ceramics, moving-image, photography, and some cross-media interactive installations. I do not limit myself to a single medium, nor am I monolithic in my approach. In fact, I constantly expand my boundaries in life, enjoying the opportunity to try various new experiences. I strive to find the approach that best aligns with me within this ‘hybrid’ approach.
I am currently in the process of expanding my boundaries. The work I am currently developing is an immersive sound and light experience installation. This piece focuses more on the interplay between sensory perception (auditory and visual) and space.
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| Tied the Balance detail 2024 |
Q. Could you share what first set you on the path as an artist, or a decisive moment that drew you deeply into your practice? If an image or sensation returns when you think of that time, we would be grateful to hear about it.
A. I studied interior design, and I have always had an innate interest in architecture, space, time-space, and structure. Previously, I was more involved in design, and I was constantly puzzled by one question: Is the relationship between people and space limited to spatial layout, material selection, and furniture arrangement? I felt that these aspects were superficial and did not touch on the core of the relationship between people and space. It wasn’t until I began to explore art that I felt I had found the key to unlocking this door.
In 2019, I was in Beijing working on a medium-sized installation using materials like PVC fabric and special paper. I didn’t have a studio and couldn’t find a workshop or any space to rent, so I set up the installation in an abandoned building. The floor was dirty, covered in dust and debris. I stayed there for half a month, getting dirty every day. It was precisely this filth that made me realize what art creation brought me—a relentless vitality. To find the right angle to stretch the fabric, I would lie directly on the dirty floor and experiment repeatedly, completely disregarding the fact that my clothes would get dirty or anything else. And in my current creative process, I often sustain minor injuries, getting cut and bleeding. But it is precisely through using my own hands and skin to genuinely touch and feel everything that I find the essence of my creation, and this is the value that the identity of an artist holds for me.
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Q. Have you ever experienced a slump or faced significant difficulties in your creative process? If so, how did you navigate and overcome that period? We are also curious to know if this process led to discovering your unique style or artistic direction, and whether you noticed any changes in your environment or in the reactions of those around you.
A. I have gone through the struggle of balancing work and creation. My full-time job as an interior designer pays the bills, but it often leaves me without the focus or time needed to make works I feel truly satisfied with. It can feel like a cycle of working to support art, but not having enough energy left for it.
To break that, I started joining projects like theater and arts festivals. These gave me chances to try new things, build different skills, and expand my practice. Through them, I realized that living through art comes from constantly exploring and pushing boundaries, and that process has also helped me find a clearer direction for my work.
Q. The fears or difficulties encountered on one's journey are often deeply connected to the birth of a particular artwork. Could you tell us about a piece that was especially challenging to create, but through which you gained a significant realization or felt a great sense of reward? Please share the experience behind that work and what that moment means to you now.
A. Yes, the work is Building Nomadism. For me, it was never about pain or fear, but more about confusion and uncertainty. Its deepest root lies in a process of self-exploration, one that allowed me to see myself more clearly. In many ways, I became the work, and the work also shaped me.
It began with a simple act of self-examination. I kept questioning and digging into myself, trying to understand what I truly wanted and pursued. Out of this repeated and increasingly profound dialogue with myself, the work gradually took shape. In the end, it crystallized around a few core ideas: freedom, migration, nomadism, identity, and belonging. For me, the creative process was not just about producing a work—it was a profound conversation with myself, through which I came to know who I am more deeply.
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Q. It seems that such an experience would have been a significant 'turning point' for you. Following that turning point, how did your artistic world and methodology change? Could you please elaborate on any specific ways your work has evolved since then?
A. This work opened the door to a deeper self-awareness for me. Since then, in addition to ensuring that each concept carries enough depth and value, I focus even more on the inner connection between myself and the work. I believe that a good piece does not require excessive explanation—it carries an original force of its own, allowing people to feel it directly. What I pursue is precisely this kind of pure strength, where the work can speak for itself. The work is me, and I am within the work.
Q. Following that turning point, did the core message or values you wish to convey through your art also change? If so, what do you consider the most significant shift?
A. There was no change. I think I became more refined and focused, which is a good thing. Only by cultivating deeply in one direction can you discover something special.
Q. What is the significance of "that moment" which remains most precious to you today, and how does it continue to affect your future work and life? If you were to capture that moment in a single word or sentence, what would it be?
A. I don't call it a single moment, but rather a period of time, specifically the creative phase of my work “Building Nomadism.” The significance of this period for me is that art allowed me to truly understand myself.
Q. Could you tell us about any individuals, artworks, or environments that have been influential in shaping your identity as an artist? We are also interested in learning how these influences are woven into your current work.
A. Few years ago, I was deeply drawn to the works of Anish Kapoor and Olafur Eliasson. Encountering their pieces for the first time, I felt an immediate, primal force—something that did not require understanding the artist’s intention, but could be sensed directly, a powerful energy beyond words. My postgraduate tutor, Pascal Anson, also influenced me greatly; he has a way of making the simplest things radiate an extraordinary intensity. These experiences shaped my own practice, and I have always pursued this quality in my work—the ability for a piece to carry its own strength and connect with people in a direct and visceral way.
Q. What role does the audience play in your creative process? How does the act of sharing your work with others impact its meaning for you?
A. I believe audiences are a very important part of the process, especially in immersive installations, where they are an integral part of the work itself. Without their participation, the work would not be complete.
Sharing with others is a positive thing. While art is often a subjective form of expression, sharing allows us to understand different perspectives and interpretations, thereby enriching the work with additional dimensions.
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| You, Me, Us wip, 2024 |
Q. Building on your past turning points, in what new directions do you hope your artistic world will evolve? What new ideas or uncharted territories are most exciting to you right now?
A. The project I am currently working on is an immersive sound and light installation featuring surround sound, programmed lighting, and some structural elements. I enjoy pushing my boundaries, and I anticipate becoming a multidisciplinary artist in the future. I believe that different media, when combined, can create a new language—and that language is precisely what makes it so captivating.
Q. Thank you so much for sharing such thoughtful insights with us today. As we conclude our conversation, What message would you like to share with your future self, or with someone who is about to embark on their own artistic journey?
A. I believe this path is full of uncertainty and unknowns, and it requires constant self-motivation to keep exploring. The drive can only come from within. Along the way, there will be successes and failures, and often silence without recognition. But if you truly believe in your passion and can withstand the emptiness and solitude of the journey, then you should step in without hesitation.
Contact
Artist : Ariel Li
Instagram : @ariell.i
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