ARTISTS STATEMENT
Working with a variety of mediums, I am interested in the intersection of culture, technology, art and design as an experiential place. I use notions of fantasy, play, and poetry from aesthetics to highlight the virtuality of culture and being. I’m drawn towards the object-ness of the virtual and create technology-based art objects and installations. Drawing from my personal history as a Hakka immigrant raised in urbanized Americana, I aim to explore relationships between landscape and culture. Landscape as defined as the natural architecture affected by plant/animal/human operations; and as the fantastical simulation of one’s senses and imagination allowing for direct experience, interactivity and exploration. I am interested in ways to make interactive media more participatory and less prescribed. Recently I have been exploring the commercialization of identity and narratives of ethnic cultures in a post-digital age. This has lead me to expand my research into memetics, digital folklore and algorithmic control of information; and engage on the relationship between traditional and digital culture, especially in regards to diaspora, critical race theory and post-colonial theory.
ABOUT THE ARTIST
Zhi-fang Li is a Hakka artist, designer and scholar based in Philadelphia, PA. She received her Masters of Fine Arts from the California Institute of the Arts’ Art and Technology program specializing in Integrated Media. Drawing from her personal history as a Hakka immigrant in the U.S., she explores the relationship between traditional and digital culture, especially in regards to diaspora, critical race theory and post-colonial theory. Her research explores the commercialization of identity and narratives of ethnic cultures in a post-digital age. This includes memetics, digital folklore and algorithmic control of information. She is also interested in ways to make interactive media more participatory and less prescribed. She has been exhibited in numerous galleries, cultural institutions academic universities nationwide. Currently, she is bringing over 10 years experience in visual design and art direction as an Assistant Professor at La Salle University’s Digital Arts (DART) program. She has previously worked with many small businesses, including B&H Photo in New York working in web/digital branding and advertising. Some clients she has had the pleasure of working with include Disney Imagineering, Canon, Sony, and CUNY Graduate Center.
© Zhi fang Li