Design Series: B Movie (2014-2023)

After publishing his poetry collection titled Injured Apples (2016), the past decade of Li Feng’s oeuvre is marked by two simultaneous and ongoing series of works: Condense the Known (2015-2022) and B Movie (2014-2023).

In the latter, B Movie, we encounter an intimate and sensitive examination of life and phenomena surrounding us, in which he conveys personal feelings and intense emotions by challenging conventional notions—think of the pornographic elements, but also symbolic juxtapositions. Both series are marked by the artist’s innate passion for humanity and his poetic perspective on life. From abstract patterns and a minimal approach in Condense the Known to the vernacular and the bold in B Movie, Li Feng uses the presence of the human image to involve the viewer in these paintings – which are not really about those human images at all. The human presence is almost excluded. This marginalisation of ‘us’ is a powerful message and is supported by Li Feng’s manipulation of the colour black.

In Li Feng’s dying moments and within restricted settings, opposing forces engage in a dangerous and mysterious negotiation. For tempting objects, he uses stern compositions in an attempt to suppress the information that incites desire, delaying the pleasure of recognition and exploring paths of divergence. These images leave the audience confused, fascinated, and restless, sinking into psychological reflection as they watch. As they enter his various patterns, they have no choice but to allow the self to occupy their body and mind again and again.