https://yorik.red Li Yao Sun, 26 Apr 2026 21:15:36 +0000 https://yorik.red en https://yorik.red/Archive Wed, 01 Apr 2026 07:50:37 +0000 Li Yao https://yorik.red/Archive Archive https://yorik.red/Information Mon, 02 Mar 2026 09:33:46 +0000 Li Yao https://yorik.red/Information Bio Li Yao (姚力) is a visual artist based in Chicago. Born in China and educated in the U.S., he trained as an illustrator before expanding into fine art and emerging technologies. Yao has exhibited internationally, including at TingDAO, the Altered Festival, The Wrong Biennale, and Ars Electronica. He has presented research at SIGGRAPH Asia 2021 and has taught virtual reality design at the University of Chicago and OF Course Shanghai. He holds an MFA in Art and Technology Studies from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (2018) and a BFA from the School of Visual Arts (2016). Downloadable CV Social ︎ studio.liyao@gmail.com ︎ @li_yao_studio Now [Solo Exhibition] Maldives @ Chinese American Museum of Chicago, March 8 - April 19, 2026.&nbsp; Booklets of the exhibited art work are on sale at the shop You can stay updated about the latest progress of Maldives via my Substack newsletter: Past [Interview]&nbsp; VR/XR艺术家姚力：通过厕所设计、监狱设计、卫生理论来探讨日常科技对我们认知的现实所产生的影响 | OF小酒馆 [Interview] “Join the virtual quest for the perfect melon”, Chicago Reader’s interview on Perfect Melon project https://yorik.red/Maldives-Debut-Chapter Sun, 26 Apr 2026 21:15:36 +0000 Li Yao https://yorik.red/Maldives-Debut-Chapter Maldives Debut Chapter Graphic novel + Exhibition 2026 (on-going) Maldives is a multi-media graphic novel and immersive exhibition re-imagining the immigrant experience as a phantasmagoric adult fable. Fusing Dreamcore aesthetics with Y2K-era Guangzhou, the project employs multilingual serial-picture narration to dismantle the perfect minority myth of assimilation, and explore the radical reclamation of a fragmented cultural identity. <img width="3000" height="2250" width_o="3000" height_o="2250" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/82baa84ac7eac6741e34f6a4f2efe72454552a19ac241790aba2b7965e70d742/Li-Departure_3000px.jpg" data-mid="247608491" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/82baa84ac7eac6741e34f6a4f2efe72454552a19ac241790aba2b7965e70d742/Li-Departure_3000px.jpg" /> <img width="2048" height="1365" width_o="2048" height_o="1365" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/edf9693043e34f898923a54a5f7b84b6ee07992d118cdd69293c9a6c40fef808/_U6A2879.jpg" data-mid="247607163" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/edf9693043e34f898923a54a5f7b84b6ee07992d118cdd69293c9a6c40fef808/_U6A2879.jpg" /> <img width="2048" height="1365" width_o="2048" height_o="1365" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/8cd945aa142d1735df8a18cea919222f2f2e35b159fe2c7da38e749d76ac677b/_U6A2883.jpg" data-mid="247607166" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/8cd945aa142d1735df8a18cea919222f2f2e35b159fe2c7da38e749d76ac677b/_U6A2883.jpg" /> <img width="2048" height="1365" width_o="2048" height_o="1365" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/4f61948ca976e77d9c7a904aef9deb71d754549802688022f2767a5ebbed343a/_U6A2899.jpg" data-mid="247607168" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/4f61948ca976e77d9c7a904aef9deb71d754549802688022f2767a5ebbed343a/_U6A2899.jpg" /> <img width="2048" height="1365" width_o="2048" height_o="1365" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/64eaef2ee95f1a45f5690ac231c9b8315a4f6f3dd0f649f0534020e9d9e3dfb7/_U6A2905.jpg" data-mid="247607169" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/64eaef2ee95f1a45f5690ac231c9b8315a4f6f3dd0f649f0534020e9d9e3dfb7/_U6A2905.jpg" /> <img width="2048" height="1365" width_o="2048" height_o="1365" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/684a887fc0ab0b5a16174d990db7554f3e78944f9414f54b8d9ae119fbafd34c/_U6A2908.jpg" data-mid="247608497" border="0" data-scale="100" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/684a887fc0ab0b5a16174d990db7554f3e78944f9414f54b8d9ae119fbafd34c/_U6A2908.jpg" /> <img width="3024" height="4032" width_o="3024" height_o="4032" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/0ef34faa53a3b3cf4839f69901bf9d9172150240d537cc5c0e26e30ee4379b4b/Maldvies_booklet-cover.jpg" data-mid="247608524" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/0ef34faa53a3b3cf4839f69901bf9d9172150240d537cc5c0e26e30ee4379b4b/Maldvies_booklet-cover.jpg" /> <img width="3024" height="4032" width_o="3024" height_o="4032" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/82d36f03e8b0df09836b4df2885ff8acd4dda011ca30f9e03e2b1887468daba4/IMG_8474E.jpg" data-mid="247608525" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/82d36f03e8b0df09836b4df2885ff8acd4dda011ca30f9e03e2b1887468daba4/IMG_8474E.jpg" /> <img width="4032" height="3024" width_o="4032" height_o="3024" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/a3f82fcf516ee561272011cb9dd834d2aab9ddbba64d54b712c20bb458560e34/Maldives_booklet_horSpread.jpg" data-mid="247608526" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/a3f82fcf516ee561272011cb9dd834d2aab9ddbba64d54b712c20bb458560e34/Maldives_booklet_horSpread.jpg" /> <img width="4032" height="3024" width_o="4032" height_o="3024" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/1fee0342cb7b187771759fc824d78114fc1964668b3a7d2b090d96098604c79a/IMG_8497E.jpg" data-mid="247608527" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/1fee0342cb7b187771759fc824d78114fc1964668b3a7d2b090d96098604c79a/IMG_8497E.jpg" /> https://yorik.red/Perfect-Melon-Platform Wed, 01 Apr 2026 06:57:46 +0000 Li Yao https://yorik.red/Perfect-Melon-Platform Perfect Melon The platform Perfect Melon is a multi-media parody that presents an over-designed, over-engineered beverage experience from a fictional beverage company. The entirety of the project is a VR experience for which I designed this platform, including a series of fictitious marketing campaigns and an online interactive performance. The project is a collaboration with Jas Brooks and Gabby Luu. To design this platform, I emphasize the idea of frictionlessness and transparency that is rampant in the rhetoric of industrial design and neoliberal commerce. I utilize glass material and modular framework design to evoke the resemblance of trade exposition pavilions created by the likes of Renzo Piano and Joseph Paxton. This platform is modeled in Autodesk Maya and rendered in Blender. <img width="3840" height="2160" width_o="3840" height_o="2160" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/f2dee6eecb3dee6cd20d7478429ffd2be172168fb544b4a4e048383fbc31456a/20230310_12_bright.png" data-mid="246743406" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/f2dee6eecb3dee6cd20d7478429ffd2be172168fb544b4a4e048383fbc31456a/20230310_12_bright.png" /> <img width="3840" height="2160" width_o="3840" height_o="2160" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/ded17ef26285d7f1f29e08eb5ee6428c06b2b15f7c0a8d93c2e5720dc5837b29/20230310_09.jpg" data-mid="246743442" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/ded17ef26285d7f1f29e08eb5ee6428c06b2b15f7c0a8d93c2e5720dc5837b29/20230310_09.jpg" /> <img width="3840" height="2160" width_o="3840" height_o="2160" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/7d56aad4815d7e40f855be1280c6bd46d872a7f54f0cac13298bb394fc383c3f/20230310_15.jpg" data-mid="246743443" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/7d56aad4815d7e40f855be1280c6bd46d872a7f54f0cac13298bb394fc383c3f/20230310_15.jpg" /> <img width="3840" height="2160" width_o="3840" height_o="2160" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/44f1de13ee6aa3973d7fca1a82bbdee0bb1ee3f01a989af848bac4693208e712/20230310_16.jpg" data-mid="246743444" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/44f1de13ee6aa3973d7fca1a82bbdee0bb1ee3f01a989af848bac4693208e712/20230310_16.jpg" /> <img width="3840" height="2160" width_o="3840" height_o="2160" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/c414e9fb7b962f7419efff55cae5399de6e971db42b9e84841b9a73aab66aa5f/20230311_01.jpg" data-mid="246743446" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/c414e9fb7b962f7419efff55cae5399de6e971db42b9e84841b9a73aab66aa5f/20230311_01.jpg" /> <img width="3840" height="2160" width_o="3840" height_o="2160" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/1e5ea647119e6c9c41e0e88e8162efbece4a52c79cfb9e1789a7a8e07ce937cc/20230310_13.jpg" data-mid="246743454" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/1e5ea647119e6c9c41e0e88e8162efbece4a52c79cfb9e1789a7a8e07ce937cc/20230310_13.jpg" /> <img width="3840" height="2160" width_o="3840" height_o="2160" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/ae529782a2a8addb1eb413553a13604d3dc586c196c3bac0dfdc9de1511dc21a/20230311_03.jpg" data-mid="246743458" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/ae529782a2a8addb1eb413553a13604d3dc586c196c3bac0dfdc9de1511dc21a/20230311_03.jpg" /><img width="3840" height="2160" width_o="3840" height_o="2160" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/ca79b12c4f062801054c136a271b78b98ec13b6a68bd598e5cd6dff35c9affbe/20230311_05.jpg" data-mid="246743460" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/ca79b12c4f062801054c136a271b78b98ec13b6a68bd598e5cd6dff35c9affbe/20230311_05.jpg" /><img width="3840" height="2160" width_o="3840" height_o="2160" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/ec8b435026345882aa31c67781fed6c6746cf5a7114fae45171186eea1c25c87/20230311_06.jpg" data-mid="246743461" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/ec8b435026345882aa31c67781fed6c6746cf5a7114fae45171186eea1c25c87/20230311_06.jpg" /> https://yorik.red/Bathroom-Study Fri, 02 Sep 2022 04:03:37 +0000 Li Yao https://yorik.red/Bathroom-Study Bathroom Study 2022 <img width="1385" height="1080" width_o="1385" height_o="1080" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/50a55be76d89cbf37053b513ad3c961b488a88402975bdc1348e94a9e1e433bc/snap2022-08-04-00-49-59.png" data-mid="151892778" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/50a55be76d89cbf37053b513ad3c961b488a88402975bdc1348e94a9e1e433bc/snap2022-08-04-00-49-59.png" /> <img width="1385" height="1080" width_o="1385" height_o="1080" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/a4936f6ba7089683ee41e7022c1283b6e31cf7cdd632107b21dba3a3691b330d/snap2022-08-04-00-52-51.png" data-mid="151892779" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/a4936f6ba7089683ee41e7022c1283b6e31cf7cdd632107b21dba3a3691b330d/snap2022-08-04-00-52-51.png" /> <img width="1385" height="1080" width_o="1385" height_o="1080" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/5af9c4f0895ada8206d89872d351b5f22844be1d288a8dbc561790832f30977e/snap2022-08-04-00-55-04.png" data-mid="151892780" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/5af9c4f0895ada8206d89872d351b5f22844be1d288a8dbc561790832f30977e/snap2022-08-04-00-55-04.png" /> <img width="1385" height="1080" width_o="1385" height_o="1080" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/4624fda26bba738c3810d0017831d6b033703d08d732c106179473e18cc01d7f/snap2022-08-04-00-56-59.png" data-mid="151892781" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/4624fda26bba738c3810d0017831d6b033703d08d732c106179473e18cc01d7f/snap2022-08-04-00-56-59.png" /> <img width="1385" height="1080" width_o="1385" height_o="1080" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/dc51fb319f38182a70996ec2bbb13c69c496d96b8c2c97769dce00e89257caa4/snap2022-08-04-00-59-49.png" data-mid="151892782" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/dc51fb319f38182a70996ec2bbb13c69c496d96b8c2c97769dce00e89257caa4/snap2022-08-04-00-59-49.png" /> <img width="1385" height="1080" width_o="1385" height_o="1080" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/b8f63f9012ab8c2c5bd217af39005f024288f3f71b84ad12af93b5cd303482bb/snap2022-08-04-01-02-21.png" data-mid="151892783" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/b8f63f9012ab8c2c5bd217af39005f024288f3f71b84ad12af93b5cd303482bb/snap2022-08-04-01-02-21.png" /> This is a 3d replica of the men’s bathroom in my high school in Shenzhen, where I had my first paruresis (shy bladder syndrome) experience. Many anxiety episodes took place in this space where each bathroom-goer would be exposed to the sight of others. The atmosphere in such institutional bathrooms in China was invariably one of casual surveillance. In recreating the space with a voxel model, I begin to channel the intentions of the designers and builders of these school bathrooms. What are the motivations behind designing bathroom surveillance? My 3d models set the stage for a subsequent animation short, now in progress. https://yorik.red/Tea-Room-Study Sat, 13 Aug 2022 04:45:22 +0000 Li Yao https://yorik.red/Tea-Room-Study Tea Room Study 2022 <img width="1385" height="1080" width_o="1385" height_o="1080" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/51c339fe835bea860c54984afad80468e3b9ae4d5f33227beaff0d61d6e0e753/snap2022-06-11-14-57-28.png" data-mid="150292835" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/51c339fe835bea860c54984afad80468e3b9ae4d5f33227beaff0d61d6e0e753/snap2022-06-11-14-57-28.png" /> <img width="1385" height="1080" width_o="1385" height_o="1080" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/14c200d353157102853f92013317c06e8f0da7fbc3047461a9e182828d283d08/snap2022-06-11-13-48-29.png" data-mid="150292836" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/14c200d353157102853f92013317c06e8f0da7fbc3047461a9e182828d283d08/snap2022-06-11-13-48-29.png" /> <img width="1385" height="1080" width_o="1385" height_o="1080" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/41c70ce50a34049fabb807fa4119d4d9931c5601d8ad85817951569944cf9ec6/snap2022-06-11-02-30-24.png" data-mid="150292842" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/41c70ce50a34049fabb807fa4119d4d9931c5601d8ad85817951569944cf9ec6/snap2022-06-11-02-30-24.png" /> <img width="1385" height="1080" width_o="1385" height_o="1080" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/448ece84e2f0fb64b1e853384f961c1b50975a73a4e70e9d58038d1cb44720a3/snap2022-06-11-22-51-05.png" data-mid="150292831" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/448ece84e2f0fb64b1e853384f961c1b50975a73a4e70e9d58038d1cb44720a3/snap2022-06-11-22-51-05.png" /> <img width="1385" height="1080" width_o="1385" height_o="1080" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/16f46dc62c3ddd8116051e9299ceb006f8ce7dfb62fd6d783bbf7d2e7f6b9f63/snap2022-06-11-15-52-32.png" data-mid="150292833" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/16f46dc62c3ddd8116051e9299ceb006f8ce7dfb62fd6d783bbf7d2e7f6b9f63/snap2022-06-11-15-52-32.png" /> <img width="1385" height="1080" width_o="1385" height_o="1080" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/ed097a1ec1d0213d363c04c564fedd1cb8e141baeb998881505c027d4c1fe664/snap2022-06-11-03-28-09.png" data-mid="150292840" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/ed097a1ec1d0213d363c04c564fedd1cb8e141baeb998881505c027d4c1fe664/snap2022-06-11-03-28-09.png" /> <img width="1385" height="1080" width_o="1385" height_o="1080" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/d01a1c17d10cf3b8080a79cd00a1703a42b5cedf08628b3c98b2dfdb7b5ecc92/snap2022-06-11-16-34-01.png" data-mid="150292832" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/d01a1c17d10cf3b8080a79cd00a1703a42b5cedf08628b3c98b2dfdb7b5ecc92/snap2022-06-11-16-34-01.png" /> <img width="1385" height="1080" width_o="1385" height_o="1080" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/345c3ae7034d05f23abb10b3514d79864ea32c0b154e0a8da4f268fe4a1811b4/snap2022-06-11-15-21-50.png" data-mid="150292834" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/345c3ae7034d05f23abb10b3514d79864ea32c0b154e0a8da4f268fe4a1811b4/snap2022-06-11-15-21-50.png" /> <img width="1385" height="1080" width_o="1385" height_o="1080" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/e7d18ea8efc14af1ab4af1a277fe3165707c396b3c27c864e1cd417f73a856c3/snap2022-06-11-03-53-41.png" data-mid="150292838" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/e7d18ea8efc14af1ab4af1a277fe3165707c396b3c27c864e1cd417f73a856c3/snap2022-06-11-03-53-41.png" /> What does it really mean to be served? This project is a study of Japanese tea room and tea garden layout. The buildings are loosely based on Omotesenke’s Fushin’an (不審庵). The Japanese tea room is a distinct type of building designed around the tea ceremony. It is a room that, at first glance, appears to be a mere extension of the tea-drinking ritual. Contemplating further, we see other details that reveal an intriguing power dynamic. Structures such as 中潜, the gate that connects the inside and outside of the garden, are designed to be so small that visitors have to curl up their bodies in order to step through the gate. The intention behind the design is said to humble the temper of the guests before they are served in the tea ceremony. This is only one of the many meticulously curated steps in the formality of the tea room visit. https://yorik.red/Perfect-Melon-Happy-Hours Wed, 01 Apr 2026 07:42:03 +0000 Li Yao https://yorik.red/Perfect-Melon-Happy-Hours Perfect MelonThe happy hours <img width="1200" height="1500" width_o="1200" height_o="1500" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/35fb3ada538039dcc21c7bf118d1b3a04b63f060b9e19c104ec01203dd53eae4/Perfect-Melon_characters.jpg" data-mid="246744114" border="0" data-scale="50" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/35fb3ada538039dcc21c7bf118d1b3a04b63f060b9e19c104ec01203dd53eae4/Perfect-Melon_characters.jpg" /> Perfect Melon team has arranged a series of interactive online events including Virtual Happy Hours and Virtual Tours, to further expand the narrative of the Perfect Melon Company.&nbsp; From October to November 2020, we have hosted Perfect Melon Virtual Happy Hours via Zoom, in collaboration with venues such as Altered Festival and Weston Game Lab.The Virtual Happy Hours is an absurdist experience where audience enters into a secret corporate recruitment program disguised as a casual online hangout. The audience will meet the scientists behind this bizarre and “ground-breaking” company, while participating in melon-themed activities, including Madlibs, Four Corners, and Consequences.All of the Perfect Melon team members would play as the company’s employees, going by the name of Director Gabby Exocarp, Community Manager Jas Cucumis, Social Media Manager Li Rind.Each of the audience would be assigned an employee name and title according to their birth month, birth day, and first name. They would be referred by their new identity for the remainder of the event.&nbsp; <img width="1920" height="1080" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/350/i/fade4e0ce2938f539bfda6c4bd81245ca4a666df09a6ea5ae65ce8e91e919527/Darwin.png" style="width: 588.734px; height: 331.163px;"> To fully utilize the features of Zoom,&nbsp; we have designed customized virtual backgrounds for different purposes. The name tag would help the audience to get to know each other and can be kept as a souvenir. The four corner background would allow audience to participate in the Q&amp;A style Virtual Four Corner. <img width="600" height="330" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/250/i/657be2989545c4573f80802f9f1f1f3670b8aaee255520698b4553f23bcdff00/ezgif.com-video-to-gif.gif" style="width: 588.734px; height: 323.804px;"><img width="1877" height="1088" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/250/i/d39a36c25693904c0d576db8d2fb2c9ee1f02461ce2336d1eb1419f4e35eca1f/IMG_1832.jpg" style="width: 435.663px; height: 252.531px;" data-scale="74"> We have also take reference of different genres of online interactions such as cocktail tutorial and ASMR. As the interludes of the interactive games, we also inserted Cocktail Minute and Perfect Melon ASMR as one-to-all, visceral telecommunicating experience. <img width="2560" height="1600" width_o="2560" height_o="1600" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/a02334384bf5785a5b5bd16a6757a47f642f9d7591fc509a8f2077e46e353e79/Screen-Shot-2020-11-30-at-5.37.39-AM.png" data-mid="246744028" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/a02334384bf5785a5b5bd16a6757a47f642f9d7591fc509a8f2077e46e353e79/Screen-Shot-2020-11-30-at-5.37.39-AM.png" /> <img width="508" height="774" width_o="508" height_o="774" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/1c86ae5e21532fe33f6724780d24d711901dcbe0a2f354ef3b48c13c273ba0f0/ezgif.com-gif-maker.gif" data-mid="246744029" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/508/i/1c86ae5e21532fe33f6724780d24d711901dcbe0a2f354ef3b48c13c273ba0f0/ezgif.com-gif-maker.gif" /> <img width="640" height="640" width_o="640" height_o="640" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/ae96dde5869bc5d0ad80780c16856386406d858d080445fc5f849869724782e9/122605292_134383851356978_7632310194433952570_n.jpg" data-mid="246744030" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/640/i/ae96dde5869bc5d0ad80780c16856386406d858d080445fc5f849869724782e9/122605292_134383851356978_7632310194433952570_n.jpg" /> <img width="640" height="640" width_o="640" height_o="640" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/d6b795161b671663e573b03e3e2c9a691d0fb91961763ed71c1751ce4ba5f2ed/122850200_150967346726281_795943293508336767_n.jpg" data-mid="246744031" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/640/i/d6b795161b671663e573b03e3e2c9a691d0fb91961763ed71c1751ce4ba5f2ed/122850200_150967346726281_795943293508336767_n.jpg" /> <img width="640" height="640" width_o="640" height_o="640" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/e4cb20ec167cad695a00ee29588fb563006869c8d40527bfb15a416c759db69e/123138096_365920611509072_9104543459940616799_n.jpg" data-mid="246744033" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/640/i/e4cb20ec167cad695a00ee29588fb563006869c8d40527bfb15a416c759db69e/123138096_365920611509072_9104543459940616799_n.jpg" /> https://yorik.red/Perfect-Melon-Campaign Wed, 01 Apr 2026 07:24:27 +0000 Li Yao https://yorik.red/Perfect-Melon-Campaign Perfect MelonThe campaign Perfect Melon is a “community-building” marketing campaign from the fictional Perfect Melon beverage corporation, presented as an interactive installation.&nbsp; The corporation intends to cultivate a consumer community entirely mediated by the corporation itself.&nbsp; For the campaign, the corporation hosts a VR flavor experience in which attendees enter a virtual pavilion floating above an infinite melon field and are tasked to find the “perfect” melon.&nbsp; Attendees assess melons by slapping them, listening to their sounds, and sampling their flavors via a taste display.&nbsp; Once they select a melon, their choice is folded into the corporation’s commercial beverage formula: a mix of all chosen melons. <img width="3036" height="4048" width_o="3036" height_o="4048" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/a14a730fa6461ec6262bc31833b2ce1dec9dcfda327d1ffa29e2a6771411de23/PerfectMelon1.jpg" data-mid="246743684" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/a14a730fa6461ec6262bc31833b2ce1dec9dcfda327d1ffa29e2a6771411de23/PerfectMelon1.jpg" /> <img width="2825" height="875" width_o="2825" height_o="875" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/18f31d136deb4e756166d4eddb33b1b221c2b52b88c054beab703c821c6f1a82/Perfect-Melon-Full-Label-Design_Final.png" data-mid="246743686" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/18f31d136deb4e756166d4eddb33b1b221c2b52b88c054beab703c821c6f1a82/Perfect-Melon-Full-Label-Design_Final.png" /> Perfect Melon Co. is interested in how international food, flavor, and beverage corporations seek to distill experience and emotion into commodified flavors. This trend is an extension of capital realism: a state of reality that is molded by the products we consume and the commercial ecosystem ​(e.g. advertisements) we engage with. These concepts are well illustrated in Givaudan’s “engage your senses” campaign and in a quote from the Coca-Cola Company: “the product of the Coca-Cola Company is not Coca-Cola… In fact, the product of the Coca-Cola Company is advertising itself.” Team Bio The Perfect Melon team consist of members Jas Brooks, Gabby Luu and Li Yao, who came together through an Art and Science Seminar in the summer of 2018.Jas Brooks is an artist and PhD candidate at the University of Chicago focusing on wearable devices that interface directly with our senses of smell and taste. Their artwork addresses intimacy, human relations, and the amplification of aesthetics via new modalities.Li Yao is a Chicago-based VR/XR artist, organizer and educator. His work focuses on the way our sense of realities is shaped through architecture and corporation’s media campaigns. Li has exhibited in various venues including Altered Festival, The Wrong Biennale, Ars Electronica 2018, and Mykono Multimedia Festival. 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.Gabby Luu is an artist and graduate from the University of Chicago, where she studied Art History (BA ‘19) and the Humanities (MA ‘19). Her research interests include contemporary East Asian Art, and her Master’s thesis focused on intersections of the body, race, politics, and masculinity in Who’s the Daddy (2017) by Wong Ping. Gabby worked in both non-profit museums and a commercial art gallery, and continues to pursue a career in the arts. https://yorik.red/My-Son-My-Son-What-Have-Ye-Done Tue, 23 Jan 2018 06:50:49 +0000 Li Yao https://yorik.red/My-Son-My-Son-What-Have-Ye-Done My Son, My Son, What Have Ye Done?2016Time-based installation This installation centers on a sacrificial altar where a single bar of soap is subjected to a slow, rhythmic erosion. Under the steady drip of water, the soap gradually softens and thins until it is physically snapped by the weight of its own burden. It is a meditation on the slow deterioration of familial bonds and the declining physical wellbeing of my mother. Having been away from China for many years, the distance has transformed home into a space of impending loss. The piece is also a linguistic dissection of my mother’s name, Jiezhen (洁贞), meaning "cleanliness and chastity." This paternal projection of ideal womanhood has manifested in her as a hyper-vigilant anxiety—a compulsion toward cleanliness and a hypochondriacal fear of the world. Here, the soap serves as a fragile symbol of the heteronormative duties and cultural expectations placed upon a mother and wife, documenting the moment where the pressure to remain pure becomes a breaking point. Installation <img width="2448" height="3264" width_o="2448" height_o="3264" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/570f8da8fcda86b49b4d1a094f532f43a3090e433f06a28c5e3609257e1a6374/IMG_3090.jpg" data-mid="51214827" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/570f8da8fcda86b49b4d1a094f532f43a3090e433f06a28c5e3609257e1a6374/IMG_3090.jpg" /> <img width="5472" height="3648" width_o="5472" height_o="3648" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/f86e7acdc87042e2b6f5d1add4161238db49d9ad968054eafac4f3e87b89b547/IMG_1804.JPG" data-mid="9823822" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/f86e7acdc87042e2b6f5d1add4161238db49d9ad968054eafac4f3e87b89b547/IMG_1804.JPG" /> <img width="3648" height="5472" width_o="3648" height_o="5472" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/64920f9582c353ca190a4896740f5ca435029cc83e6b330eb1e848e0fc7bc45b/IMG_1819.JPG" data-mid="9823841" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/64920f9582c353ca190a4896740f5ca435029cc83e6b330eb1e848e0fc7bc45b/IMG_1819.JPG" /> <img width="5472" height="3648" width_o="5472" height_o="3648" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/0d730837b1ca3312279a431a1f21e8b777d1e718c1db02babbc653deb18e7f77/IMG_1809.JPG" data-mid="9823840" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/0d730837b1ca3312279a431a1f21e8b777d1e718c1db02babbc653deb18e7f77/IMG_1809.JPG" /> Fabrication <img width="3264" height="2448" width_o="3264" height_o="2448" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/12a1f62fb03dd14e9e5105eea23ffeb05e73f675c023ac98d2b7e7bf6dfd84f0/IMG_2590.jpg" data-mid="51215194" border="0" alt="Digital model in SOLIDWORKS" data-caption="Digital model in SOLIDWORKS" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/12a1f62fb03dd14e9e5105eea23ffeb05e73f675c023ac98d2b7e7bf6dfd84f0/IMG_2590.jpg" /> <img width="3264" height="2448" width_o="3264" height_o="2448" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/300b9e4127c7bf5ed0d46b47fd608fde356ca7cbcf88a20148aaf87d53448a4e/IMG_2591.jpg" data-mid="51215195" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/300b9e4127c7bf5ed0d46b47fd608fde356ca7cbcf88a20148aaf87d53448a4e/IMG_2591.jpg" /> <img width="2448" height="3264" width_o="2448" height_o="3264" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/317d0ad5c67aaa23e2e7fb80eb11de16c5ea0f1341c57c5ad634196b2528263b/IMG_2562.jpg" data-mid="51215205" border="0" alt="Sketch of construction" data-caption="Sketch of construction" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/317d0ad5c67aaa23e2e7fb80eb11de16c5ea0f1341c57c5ad634196b2528263b/IMG_2562.jpg" /> <img width="2448" height="3264" width_o="2448" height_o="3264" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/7d7f613391fb71fb9bd69e8405b4ea5e314c8eec5a9d34997e06034f398457fa/IMG_2563.jpg" data-mid="51215208" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/7d7f613391fb71fb9bd69e8405b4ea5e314c8eec5a9d34997e06034f398457fa/IMG_2563.jpg" /> <img width="2448" height="3264" width_o="2448" height_o="3264" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/abada354879810884a0fb8786c4ad0b74cbfb5a5355c978682ef00e93303f284/IMG_2547.jpg" data-mid="51215544" border="0" alt="Stress-testing the soap" data-caption="Stress-testing the soap" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/abada354879810884a0fb8786c4ad0b74cbfb5a5355c978682ef00e93303f284/IMG_2547.jpg" /> <img width="2448" height="3264" width_o="2448" height_o="3264" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/742dbd8400caaae1b5e399731ba54b80473f3f0fb7521486f49af9dd335c9130/IMG_2561.jpg" data-mid="51216242" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/742dbd8400caaae1b5e399731ba54b80473f3f0fb7521486f49af9dd335c9130/IMG_2561.jpg" /> <img width="2286" height="3048" width_o="2286" height_o="3048" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/83e5aa12b2e311ceec5f8fbfaa7004db70260cf909ac50e1fde1b9504cb9e564/IMG_2634.jpg" data-mid="51214365" border="0" alt="CNC carving the shallow water tank" data-caption="CNC carving the shallow water tank" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/83e5aa12b2e311ceec5f8fbfaa7004db70260cf909ac50e1fde1b9504cb9e564/IMG_2634.jpg" /> <img width="2448" height="3264" width_o="2448" height_o="3264" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/034704f4d695d0bbc00682bb063292bc9cba3ca43797548b2ddf7b6b905a44f3/IMG_2679.jpg" data-mid="51214371" border="0" alt="Plywood texture detail" data-caption="Plywood texture detail" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/034704f4d695d0bbc00682bb063292bc9cba3ca43797548b2ddf7b6b905a44f3/IMG_2679.jpg" /> <img width="2448" height="3264" width_o="2448" height_o="3264" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/099a5ac23a1dd5226a8368e9efcc5b7ab9d74a7124367c084418ea76d8ee9d56/IMG_3003.jpg" data-mid="51214378" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/099a5ac23a1dd5226a8368e9efcc5b7ab9d74a7124367c084418ea76d8ee9d56/IMG_3003.jpg" /> <img width="2210" height="3264" width_o="2210" height_o="3264" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/6a743e18d7b769bd4a1658eb0f8e8420f6dfef6be14c765ba7de338666b60272/IMG_2883.jpg" data-mid="51215689" border="0" alt="Indention to hold the soap" data-caption="Indention to hold the soap" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/6a743e18d7b769bd4a1658eb0f8e8420f6dfef6be14c765ba7de338666b60272/IMG_2883.jpg" /> <img width="2448" height="3264" width_o="2448" height_o="3264" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/5552e544172cf41ee6f949d747091fc127f2753ac213a4e74f896dc62e45864e/IMG_2999.jpg" data-mid="51214373" border="0" alt="Water-proofing with polyurethane" data-caption="Water-proofing with polyurethane" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/5552e544172cf41ee6f949d747091fc127f2753ac213a4e74f896dc62e45864e/IMG_2999.jpg" /> https://yorik.red/Journey-Under-the-Midnight-Sun Fri, 23 Mar 2018 04:07:53 +0000 Li Yao https://yorik.red/Journey-Under-the-Midnight-Sun Journey Under the Midnight Sun 白夜行 2016 Inspired by Keigo Higashino’s namesake murder mystery. <img width="3648" height="2048" width_o="3648" height_o="2048" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/3c655137b0541d6bfff92719cfdbc84ce0a396ac482ba96a06b5e8ed042936bf/IMG_6330.JPG" data-mid="13468596" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/3c655137b0541d6bfff92719cfdbc84ce0a396ac482ba96a06b5e8ed042936bf/IMG_6330.JPG" /> <img width="3648" height="2048" width_o="3648" height_o="2048" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/329a1c99d8d466a10a578782b9f68a61afb653387a74debd6fe06e80fe5ee8a7/IMG_6364.JPG" data-mid="13468597" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/329a1c99d8d466a10a578782b9f68a61afb653387a74debd6fe06e80fe5ee8a7/IMG_6364.JPG" /> <img width="3648" height="2048" width_o="3648" height_o="2048" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/77ad5a8429352306a093b174fb720e4702e5c5ac7dfedc5bf4fd0c44e51833d6/IMG_6327.JPG" data-mid="13468598" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/77ad5a8429352306a093b174fb720e4702e5c5ac7dfedc5bf4fd0c44e51833d6/IMG_6327.JPG" /> <img width="3648" height="2048" width_o="3648" height_o="2048" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/c1cc65fb071d6e4d37ecfad9e90aba2a3945f9f4dd8aad1889734b3d9f62f885/IMG_6329.JPG" data-mid="13468600" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/c1cc65fb071d6e4d37ecfad9e90aba2a3945f9f4dd8aad1889734b3d9f62f885/IMG_6329.JPG" />