Watching a sunset over the ocean is a truly breathtaking and awe-inspiring sight. As the sun descends toward the horizon, I feel a sense of anticipation and excitement building within me. The warm and golden rays of the sun reflect off the surface of the water, creating a stunning play of light and color. As the sun sinks lower, the colors of the sunset intensify, blending oranges and blues in a mesmerizing display. The water below takes on a gradual quality, with the sunset colors seeming to blend and swirl in the waves.

This liquid sunset over the ocean is a moment of pure magic when the natural world comes alive with color and light. It reminds me of the beauty and power of nature, encouraging me to stop and appreciate the wonders surrounding us every day.

Inspired by the sensation of sunlight touching my skin, I created an art installation titled Radiate that captures the essence of this moment. To create Radiate, I began with a stretcher frame and substituted monk’s cloth for the canvas. Then I dyed the fabric and used mixed media to create a surface of different transparencies, including varying shades of orange and blue wool and plastic netting. I then implemented techniques, including tufting, crocheting, knitting, and sewing, to fill the surface of the cloth with rich textures and components.

Radiate is comprised of two rectangles with threads intertwined between them in a gradient from orange to blue, giving the impression of light. Some of these threads extend downwards and intersect to connect with the puddle-shaped carpets on the floor. I encourage the audience to take off their shoes and step onto the carpets, which use the same materials and methods as the suspended work, share the feeling of the sunset on my face, and bring people closer to the art. The human foot is very sensitive and has a relatively developed sense of touch, allowing the concept of softness to be better communicated to the audience. I began with an overall sketch and then created two poured acrylic paintings, which served as a loose guild for the shapes within the larger rectangles. Once I started working at scale with the soft material, I responded directly to the materiality and the scale. For me, Radiate was a process of creating a utopia. The rectangular frames serve as a doorway to another world, with the elements and textures seeming to grow outward as if they are alive and possibly coming from another world through the doorway. There is no intended front or back of the work; I hope the viewer will feel the installation is like a door to a utopia that appears out of nowhere.

As I progress further in my research, I am venturing into uncharted territory by exploring novel materials and techniques that will elevate the immersive and experiential elements of my installation. My current thesis project builds upon the solid groundwork laid during my MFA program, while also pushing the boundaries of my creative and intellectual horizons. As with my previous work over the last 18 months of my MFA, this project is inspired by nature and delves into new media. This undertaking represents the culmination of my endeavors to merge the distinctiveness and potentials of diverse materials in order to realize my personal utopia.

Art has the power to move people and inspire them to see the world in new and beautiful ways. By creating an immersive experience that engages the senses, I encourage people to pause and appreciate the beauty surrounding us daily.

Yuanrong (Joy) Li’s website: yuanrongli.com

Instagram: @yuanrong_art