March 21st – March 30th

Opening reception: March 23rd 5 – 8 pm

Bio:

Mao Li, female, born in Beijing,  is a professional painter who has received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Beijing Normal University.  She then went on to advanced study at Central Academy of Fine Arts from 1992 to 1995.  The artist lived in Puerto Rico From 2004 to 2017,  began her series of 100 Chinese Dolls, 2018 to present , and is currently living in New York.

Statement

Winning the freedom, joy and high spirits of the soul

Haha!  The surge of life running forward! Being on the mysterious island of the Caribbean! The second hometown of my life! Just like the spring River flowing eastward! One moment twenty years in a flash, during the snapping of the fingers! A mysterious spiritual journey!

Stepping into Puerto Rico, stepping into midsummer, stepping into the brilliant sunshine and fragrance of life! You are warm forever! You are the eternal lover! You are my tireless paintings and poems! You bring much inspiration to me! The passionate music, Bacardi, dancing, the musk, hugging the sunshine, walking in the colorful streets, stepping in the passion of the Carnival, just like burning flame of life! Life is a bouquet of flame flowers!
When l embraced Puerto Rico again after the disaster, stepping into your bosom and feeling your warmth, as if a burst of fragrance spraying upon my face, let my thoughts glow again, let my hungry soul recharge fully again! Wow! Puerto Rico–my close lover, you rain every day, but sunshine will wipe away your tears quickly!

From PR Island transferring to the front of NYC, what a drop in temperature! Just like falling from midsummer to cold winter in one moment, its snowy world one after another, its autumn cold wind blows against your face; it is like facing the cool wind sweeping the fallen leaves in the backyard every day! You rewarded me with too much chill and going against all human feelings! But storing up surplus energy actually distils out the warmth from NYC’s chilly air! I still embrace you passionately! Taking your hand and entering a whole new world! Maybe I’ll run forward and embrace this city in the coming years!

Walking on the streets of NYC, walking in this snowy world and cold air, the flame of PR seem to still be spreading, even if I am in silence for a long time, even if l don’t know how to engage with NYC, this is a new experience completely, this is an opportunity for deep deposition, life is shining brightly in the cold, sending out the charming fragrance.  Come on, let me have a deep breath, smell the different fragrances of NYC!

When others built their own garden house carefully, l decided to create a spiritual space-time carefully, so l wandered to PR, an isolated island in the Caribbean, engaged in paintings 100 Chinese dolls series. Twenty years racked my brains, nonstop running horse, and still against the violent winds and huge waves of life, so a spiritual building always under construction, reaping many times but never enough. Wow! A super strong hurricane Maria violated this island, blowing me from PR to NYC in one moment!  I truly feel tired, it is  best to take a rest in this new station, holding an exhibition, after all, the art should not be only a personal matter, it should give people more appreciation and visual beauty!

The doll has an immortal spirit; it is a spiritual body symbol that transcends time and space, experiencing the spiritual happiness of the life!
In the ordinary dull- unchanging days, after owning a series of pain, you can still hear the most wonderful tones of life?
Spirit is failing, material desires are increasing, nothing touches the spirit, and soul is frozen!

The doll is a sensible spirit, always dressed in the strong colors, one way higher tones singing the joy of the flowers, one way loudly calling with tears!
Material abundance and spirit broken, too much seeking heaven concepts and ideas form, it will block the natural flow of the heart. Returning the traveling of the mind! Returning the contents of the mind’s pursuit! Returning the essence of life searching! Let mind flowers bloom at ease! Let us begin with enriching our inner life!

The doll is a perspective, seeing life from a new angle, it pays attention to human nature, describing the true nature of the people, there are not many modes in the works, fresh, natural, bold and innovative, never copy in a very meticulous way, they look different expressive, passionate, and full of romantic imagination.  She is always in high-spirit, always full of hopes, full of exuberant vitality, running forward, running and running again!
Winning the freedom, joy and high spirit with the effort of one lifetime and value!