Blurring reality: Haozhe Li discusses the inspiration behind Dreamscape

Artists and viewers have always been fascinated by the line between reality and imagination. In her recent exhibit at New York’s :iidrr Gallery, New York-based illustrator and visual artist Haozhe Li challenges this boundary. She invited audiences to explore the relationship between the virtual and the real and uncover hidden meanings and emotions behind one’s everyday experiences.

Haozhe Li graduated from Beijing Normal University with a Bachelor of Arts in Art and Design. She then pursued her passion for illustration and visual art at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York, where she completed her MFA in Illustration in 2023.

Li`s artworks at the «Dreamscape» exhibit were divided into two main sections: her award-winning «Something Happened» series and her latest pastel illustrations, «Those Shadows». :iidrr Gallery featured «Dreamscape» from August 13 to 15, 2024, showcasing Li`s unique ability to blend the real and surreal and create a visual narrative that resonates with the complexities of human perception. 

:iidrr Gallery is a New York-based artist-run gallery and platform focusing on new media art and trendy cultures. Founded in 2020, it supports artists who explore new technologies and collaborate with established contemporary artists. They seek to combine traditional media art forms and trendsetting cultural expressions by featuring artists.

Getting Lost in Haozhe Li’s Work at «Dreamscape» Exhibit

Behind the Scenes of «Something Happened»

Li`s «Something Happened» series explored the blurred lines between reality and imagination. Through three distinct scenes — «Roving», «Something Happened», and «Veiled» — Li creates a world that mirrors the uncertainty and complexity of dreams. The series encourages viewers to engage deeply with the art, speculate on its meaning, and reflect on their own experiences. 

Haozhe Li explained that the common thread in these three scenes is a persistent sense of the unknown. This encouraged viewers to engage deeply with the art, speculate on its meaning, and reflect on their experiences. This perspective enabled her to explore the complexities of the subconscious and create an intriguing visual narrative open to interpretation.

Something Happened, Pastel, Watercolor, Color Pencil, 18x24 inch

Technically, Li admitted the process behind «Something Happened» was quite complex. She used a diverse range of artistic techniques and materials to achieve a dreamlike quality. She combined traditional media such as watercolors, pastels, and colored pencils with digital painting, creating a unique visual language that bridges the gap between classical and contemporary art forms. 

According to Li, her goal was for the velvety nature of pastels to reflect smooth blending and gradual color transitions in her work, resulting in ethereal atmospheres and vibrant hues that maintained their intensity over time. 

In addition to watercolors, pastels, and colored pencils, Haozhe Li also used the papier-mâché technique. This art technique combined sculpture, painting, layering paper, and clay to create rich surface textures and three-dimensional effects. Using this technique enhanced viewer immersion and added layers to the artwork. 

For Haozhe Li, the velvety nature of her work is one thing, but adding depth to it is another story. She used materials like shrink-plastic to create 3D textures within her 2D illustrations to further blur the lines between reality and illusion. She drew with colored pencils on shrink plastic, then heats and seals it to give the flat illustrations a unique three-dimensional texture, encouraging deeper viewer immersion and adding layers to the artwork. 

Various award-giving bodies, such as the «World Illustration Awards», «London International Creative Competition», and «Ijungle Illustration Awards», have recognized «Something Happened».

Introducing «Those Shadows»

Aside from «Something Happened», Li also featured her artwork «Those Shadows» as part of her «Dreamscape» exhibit. «Those Shadows» dove into the complex relationship between suffering and personal growth. Through visual metaphors, Li represents external harm with sharp glass, internal struggles with shadows, and the potential for rebirth with emerging flowers.

Enveloped in Rose Fragrance, Pastel, Color Pencil, 9.5x9.5 inch

This juxtaposition of elements illustrates how painful experiences can lead to positive transformations, inviting viewers to contemplate the nature of pain and growth. Haozhe Li employed various artistic techniques to convey her message, including visual transitions from sharp to soft elements, color contrasts using darker tones for shadows and brighter hues for flowers, and symbolic representations that imbue everyday objects with deeper meanings.

Guiding Light, Pastel, Color Pencil, 9.5x12 inch

The series featured notable artworks that exemplify Li`s artistic vision. «Guiding Light» showcases a glowing paper boat, symbolizing hope in dark times and demonstrating how small light sources can be powerful in darkness. «Blossoming Freedom» depicts a girl jumping between flowers, representing youthful energy, female vitality, and the ability to overcome challenges. 

Those Shadows, Pastel, Color Pencil, 9.5x12 inch

Influenced by expressionism and symbolism art movements, these works create a visual tension that encourages viewers to reflect on the power of pain and the potential for growth and beauty that can emerge from difficult experiences.

«I`m always looking for ways to expand the possibilities of traditional media. I can create visual narratives that are both familiar and surprising to viewers by experimenting with different techniques», — Haozhe Li mentioned.

Metaphors and Meaning in Visual Storytelling

Li`s illustrations at the «Dreamscape» exhibit went beyond visual appeal. They also touched on philosophical reflections on life, transformation, and growth. 

For Li, metaphor creates multiple layers of meaning in the work, allowing viewers to go beyond the visual experience and tap into the emotional and intellectual depth within the pieces. Each of her works becomes a starting point for reflection and insight, opening a door for viewers to explore the relationship between self and reality.

«I`ve always been fascinated by the power of uncertainty in art. In «Dreamscape», I wanted to create a space where viewers could engage with their subconscious, drawing uniquely personal conclusions», — Li explains.

For Haozhe Li, the beauty of «Dreamscape» lies in its ability to inspire personal interpretations and reflections, regardless of the artist`s original intent behind each piece. While she infused inspiration and meaning into every piece, Li encourages viewers to form unique connections with the art. 

The exhibition created a space where meanings are not confined to the artist`s vision, but are open to individual exploration and understanding. Through this outlook, the «Dreamscape» exhibit invites viewers to engage with the artworks on a deeper level, allowing the pieces to resonate with their imaginations and experiences.

The exhibition drew nearly a thousand visitors and fellow artists over its three-day span, with many captivated by Haozhe Li’s masterful application of tempera painting techniques. The unique fusion of traditional methods and modern sensibilities sparked thoughtful discussions and meaningful exchanges throughout the event. Li’s innovative approach to tempera not only mesmerized the audience but also earned widespread critical acclaim. This exhibition became a dynamic space for both artistic exploration and intellectual engagement.

Coffee Time, Pastel, Color Pencil, 19 x 24 inch

Beyond the success of this exhibition, Haozhe Li’s achievements in the international illustration arena continue to elevate her reputation. Her tempera work, «Coffee Time», was recognized as a runner-up in the prestigious Creative Quarterly 77 illustration competition. Creative Quarterly is a globally respected journal celebrating excellence in graphic design, fine art, illustration, and photography. Haozhe Li’s work continues to demonstrate her exceptional talent and commitment to pushing the boundaries of illustration art.