Bio
Li Yao is an artist, creative technologist, and educator living between New York and Chicago. Born in China and educated in the US, Li navigates between diverse geopolitical landscapes, observing the ideological diversity that grounds our realities. Currently, Li dedicates his studio practice to creating virtual environments through modeling software, game engines, and telecommunication applications. Over the years, Li’s work has gone through many changes in both medium and subject matter. What stays true throughout his transformation is a persistent interest in using technology to exorcise familial curses, to recuperate from phobias, and to examine the social conditions from which such curses and phobias arise.
Li has exhibited in various online and offline venues including TingDAO, Altered Festival, The Wrong Biennale, Ars Electronica, and Mykonos Multimedia Festival. He was invited to present his work at SIGGRAPH Asia 2021, and interviewed by the Chicago Reader. Li has designed and taught several virtual reality design curricula in various organizations including the University of Chicago and OF Course Shanghai. He received his MFA in Art and Technology Studies from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago in 2018, and his BFA in Fine Arts from the School of Visual Arts in 2016.
Li has exhibited in various online and offline venues including TingDAO, Altered Festival, The Wrong Biennale, Ars Electronica, and Mykonos Multimedia Festival. He was invited to present his work at SIGGRAPH Asia 2021, and interviewed by the Chicago Reader. Li has designed and taught several virtual reality design curricula in various organizations including the University of Chicago and OF Course Shanghai. He received his MFA in Art and Technology Studies from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago in 2018, and his BFA in Fine Arts from the School of Visual Arts in 2016.
Search work by categories:
Digital Art & Animation | Generative Art | Installations & Sculptures | Graphic Design | Video
Highlights
Bathroom Study (2022)
3d environmental study of a bathroom that gave me much nerve.
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3d environmental study of a bathroom that gave me much nerve.
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Tea Room Study (2022)
3d environmental study of control and servitude facilitated in Japanese tea room layout.
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3d environmental study of control and servitude facilitated in Japanese tea room layout.
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Water Flows Through My Closet (2021 - 2022)
Ai-generative image and text. This project explore what Ai had learnt about bathroom experience.
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Ai-generative image and text. This project explore what Ai had learnt about bathroom experience.
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Perfect Melon ( On-going ):
VR multisensorial performance.
Keywords: Digital Art & Animation, Installations & Sculptures
VR multisensorial performance.
Keywords: Digital Art & Animation, Installations & Sculptures
Bunker ( 2016 - 2018 ) :
VR installation. Conceived during the escalating tension of China-US diplomacy, this project seeks to reflect the curse of our time.
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VR installation. Conceived during the escalating tension of China-US diplomacy, this project seeks to reflect the curse of our time.
Sort by: Digital Art & Animation, Installations & Sculptures
My Son, My Son, What Have Ye Done?
( 2016 ) :
Time-based installation on familial obligation
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( 2016 ) :
Time-based installation on familial obligation
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Red Oil Wontons ( 2015 ) :
Serial glitch prints and installation on food and lingual translationNow broadcasted daily on @dailywontons
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Serial glitch prints and installation on food and lingual translationNow broadcasted daily on @dailywontons
Sort by: Generative Art, Installations & Sculptures
Warden/ Prisoner ( 2015 ) :
Video installation and architectural study on toilets
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Video installation and architectural study on toilets
Sort by: Video, Installations & Sculptures







