Jay Li, Painting in the Old Factory
In Painting in the Old Factory, Jay Li presents an expressive, semi-abstract painting that
merges Chinese and Western European artistic traditions. It is a self-portrait of the artist at work in his former studio, depicted through a fisheye lens perspective. This visual distortion reflects the emotional complexity of memory and time, making the abstract elements feel more rooted in the artist's personal experiences.
Li’s lifelong exploration of both Chinese and Western European techniques is evident in his layered use of color, symbolic form, and compositional balance. The recurring
image of his typewriter series serves as a metaphor for memory and transformation, linking past and present, object and emotion, function and obsolescence.
Drawing from Chinese philosophies of simplicity and Western expressionist color, Li invites viewers into a meditative space. Painting in the Old Factory is a quiet reflection on how we hold onto the past while navigating the relentless progression of modern life.
