RØR(E): Where Air Flows

Mingshu Li's artistic practices are centred around ceramic sculptures, each imbued with a captivating interplay of form and space. Her creations are anchored in two foundational themes: "holes" and "airflow."

In Li's creations, "holes" hold a significance akin to the blank space in a painting or the pauses within piano compositions. Just as a solid form does, a "hole" carries its own shape and meaning, bending and stretching to expand the sculptural surface within defined limits. These holes serve as connectors, sparking conversations between the inside and outside, guiding gazes to overlooked empty spaces. In this manner, "holes" expand the scope of sculptures without relying on mass, transforming the air around the sculpture into a part of her work.

In the context of Chinese culture, "Qi" signifies the essence of air. This concept symbolizes breath, energy, and the flow of vitality. Li channels these dynamic energies through "holes," conveying the very essence of "airflow." Her exploration extends beyond kilns, encompassing physical exhibition spaces where interior and exterior realms reconnect. The emptiness within a ceramic sculpture integrates with its form, as Li detects the rhythmic pulse of "Qi" in the sculptures, a shared respiration uniting everyone.

Embracing the expansive nature of ceramic materials, Mingshu Li ventures into diverse clay-shaping techniques. After encountering the clay extruder, a pivotal revelation emerged: the extruder is a tool that seamlessly merges "holes" and "airflow" in one fluid motion—extrusion. As clay meets the extruder, its reaction reveals its inherent strength. Air bubbles burst within, etching airflow tales onto the tubular form. Li shapes the tube's curvature by adjusting clay plasticity and the extruder's die kit angles. Yet, its specific form remains an enigma, a product of the intricate interplay between elements, adding an element of unpredictability to Mingshu Li's artistic process.

The exhibition is supported by Arts Council Norway.
Northing Space is supported by Arts Council Norway and Bergen Municipality.
Northing Space's program in 2023 is also supported by the Fritt Ord Foundation.

About the artist:

Mingshu Li (1994), an emerging ceramic artist based in Oslo who went on to obtain a Masters in Medium and Material Based Art at the Kunsthøgskolen i Oslo in 2020. She has participated in exhibitions for the past four years both nationally and internationally. Her works are collected by the city of El Vendrell as a part of the Municipal Art Collection in Spain, KODE Art Museums in Norway, and Jingdezhen Ceramic University Museum in China. Mingshu is highly inspired by the environment around her and represents this in her works. She has been exploring non-traditional ways of using clay for making sculptures, understanding how clay can be utilized as a medium to make sense of who she is and where she lives.