Le Xi: Shadows of Existence — Finding Harmony in Art

In my artistic practice, I appreciate a state that neither fully disconnects from the world nor completely immerses in it. This balance provides me with a unique perspective that allows me to find harmony between daily life and artistic creation. Light and shadow play an important role in my work; they are not just visual elements but also carriers of emotion and thought. In the world of light and shadow, I discover a form of existence that transcends reality.

Le Xi, The Narrow Bridge, 01:27(Loop), video, dimensions variable, 2020

The piece "The Narrow Bridge" is an exploration of this state. During the creation process, I stood with my back to the sun, contemplating the connection between the intangible nature of art and everyday life. My curiosity about shadows led me to distill some mysterious elements, trying to blur the lines between reality and illusion. I used my phone to capture the process of following my shadow, ensuring that my foot and the shadow overlapped in the frame, making me become my shadow's shadow. By focusing on the shadow, I gradually immersed myself in its expression, allowing imagination and the act of filming to intertwine. This experience flowed freely in an open space, leading to a slow transition between flatness and depth.

This physical practice deeply made me aware of the boundaries of existence—between material forms and the limitations of planes and spaces, the "void" and "reality" in life hold infinite possibilities. I projected my body into these boundaries, confronting life's void and limitations while also feeling its endless charm. This process allowed me to sense the eternal tension between "void" and "reality," deepening my understanding of the essence of existence.

“Physical practice” plays a crucial role in my work, and this paradoxical experience profoundly influences my artistic creation. I integrate bodily movement and imagination into the filming process, experiencing the materialization of light and shadow as it shifts between flatness and space. I strive to blur the boundaries of reality and illusion, feeling the infinite possibilities that lie within. "The Narrow Bridge" aims to invite viewers to explore the relationship between self and the world, sparking deep reflection on their own existence through interaction with shadows and the combination of body and phone.