Serena Li
I venture into decelerating the fast-paced motion of the present. Taking time to process and uncover my memories allows me to discover how my experiences have subconsciously shaped me. My work encapsulates my identity as a queer woman and second-gen Chinese immigrant raised in America. It examines the anxieties arising from the collision of Western and Eastern cultures, the tension between the pleasing and the unsettling, lacking personal authenticity, and the sensation of spiritual dislocation and unrest. I splay out my subconscious through paintings and sculptures, using hyper chroma palettes, confounding anatomies, and materials that tangibly connect me to my ascendants. The fluidity of colors, form, and material reflects the fluidity of my identity.
Otherworldly entities plague the course of my work, conveying the idea of alienation and uncertainty while attracting curiosity and wonder. They are hybrids of familiar things represented mythologically, fueled by personal and familial anecdotes. Shells and carapaces often reoccur, simulating home and protection. Foods sourced from nature, such as sweet potato, beans, and fruits are laced throughout my sculptural work, acting as a generational vehicle to my relatives and ancestors. The ambiguity within my work portrays the perplexing clashing of cultures and relationships I’ve experienced. They are embodiments of my ruminations and shame about the uncertainty of my identity and heritage. Through my creative practice, I attempt to cope, heal, and make sense of the world by creating entities that don’t pertain to any expectations or conventions. They exist in a cosmos of ambiguous, beloved beings I have created for myself and others who have shared similar experiences to seek comfort in.
