Beili Liu’s Toil, Silk Organza, dimensions variable, each element approximately 3” to 8” long. (2009-2010)
“Each elements of the installation is made from a thin strip of silk organza, which is cut slowly from a pice of silk fabric using a burning incense. The strips are carefully rolled in to cone shaped elements of various length. Installed perpendicularly from the wall, the thin silk cones twist and toil, as if growing out of the wall surface.”
Detail image of Beili Liu’s Lure/Wave installation
Beili Liu’s Lure Series (2008-2012):
“The ancient Chinese legend of the red thread tells that when children are born, invisible red threads connect them to the ones whom they are fated to be with. Over the years of their lives they come closer and eventually find each other, overcoming the distance between, and cultural and social divides.
The installations make use of thousands of hand spiraled coils of red thread suspended from the ceiling. A disk may be connected to another, as a pair, and a pair of disks is made from a single thread. Every coil is pierced in the center by a sewing needle, which then threaded and enables the suspension of the disks. Subtle air currents set the red disks swaying and turning slowly as the loose strands of thread on the floor drift and become entangled.
Each composition of the Lure Installation Series carefully responds to the given space and its architectural specificities.”
Lure/Wave, 2010 UICA
Beili Liu’s The Mending Project (Austin, TX, 2011):
“The overwhelming situation presented in The Mending Project is balanced and softened by the silent persistence of a simple mending action. The large quantity and intense force of the scissors elevate the confrontation between the objects and the performer. The installation/performance evokes urgency, concern, and fear, while simultaneously influence viewers through the calming and healing aura of the mending action.”
Beili Liu’s The Mending Project (Austin, TX, 2011):
“The installation consists of hundreds of Chinese scissors suspended from the ceiling, pointing downwards. The hovering, massive cloud of scissors alludes to distant fear, looming violence and worrisome uncertainty. The performer sits beneath the countless sharp blades of the scissors, and performs an on-going simple task of mending.”
