Updated: Nov 1
Author: KAILI.M
In the vast universe of contemporary art, Tiejun Li’s Sky Supermarket shines like a unique star, radiating profound philosophical insights and provoking deep contemplation on the essence of art within the international art community. When we examine Tiejun Li's Sky Supermarket, his deep insight into the fusion of reality and the virtual world is immediately apparent. In today’s digital and AI-driven age, supermarkets are no longer restricted to traditional physical spaces. The rise of online supermarkets has erased the boundaries of time and space. Tiejun Li captures this transformation with precision, presenting a fusion of the bustling, tangible energy of physical supermarkets alongside the surreal convenience of their virtual counterparts. This interplay between reality and the virtual challenges our ingrained perceptions of existence and appearance.
From an art theory perspective, Sky Supermarket is a powerful metaphor. It transcends its identity as a mere space for commerce, evolving into a crossroads of social relationships, human desires, and cultural values. Here, decisions are influenced not only by the utility of products but also by the symbolic power of branding, packaging, and advertising. This reflects the confusion and pursuit prevalent in consumer societies, while also unveiling the hidden power structures and ideologies behind the façade.
Artist Tiejun Li
Tiejun Li’s artistic methods are equally rich with philosophical significance. He applies contemporary art concepts to bridge thought, text, and the reconfiguration of relationships between objects and actions. By digitizing and restructuring human interaction in hyper-spatial awareness, Li forges a connection between business and art. His work moves beyond early theoretical ideas, becoming a part of daily life itself. The participants in his pieces are real consumers—the users of the products. Nothing changes in the familiar supermarket scene, yet this work prompts us to reflect on our dual roles as both consumers and co-creators of art. It raises important questions: Are we active contributors to this era or passive recipients? These reflections lie at the heart of Li’s creative vision.
Artist Tiejun Li in the studio
On a deeper level, Tiejun Li’s supermarket works engage with philosophical questions of time and space. In this hybrid environment where the virtual and the real intertwine, time feels both compressed and extended, and spatial boundaries blur. We have instant access to global product information, yet we also experience the fleeting nature of time and the disorientation of space in the face of endless choices.
On an even more profound philosophical level, Li’s Sky Supermarket may be a reflection on the essence of human existence. In a world overflowing with material temptations and an information overload, how do we maintain what we call our authentic self? Are we consumed by insatiable desires, or can we uphold the tranquility and clarity that traditional culture advocates in the midst of complexity?
In conclusion, Tiejun Li’s Sky Supermarket, with its unique perspective and profound meaning, opens a multidimensional door to philosophical inquiry. It invites us to re-examine the surface of life, seek the truths hidden beneath, and reflect on the critical role art plays in revealing the meaning of human existence. This is a masterpiece that bridges the virtual and the real, and as an art critic, I foresee that Tiejun Li’s Sky Supermarket, building on the foundation of his Fog series, will become a significant work in the international art world.
As Tiejun Li aptly puts it: “In my work, there are only participants, no spectators.”
—KAILI.M
New.ArtPhilosophy
October 18, 2024
Note: Tiejun Li is the Overseas Art Consultant to the Los Angeles Beverly Arts (LABA). His name in the article was changed from the Chinese version Li Tiejun to the English version Tiejun Li.
The Beverly Arts News is sponsored by Qiuli Si Beverly Art Studio, MDSUN, and En Guangzhi Art Studio
Artist Marisa Caichiolo with one of her artworks
Manhattan Beach, California, USA. 25th October, 2024. “Back to the Roots”is a solo exhibition by artist Marisa Caichiolo, envisioned by Homeira Goldstein and curated by the Manhattan Beach Arts Center. It explores themes of heritage, migration, and memory, intertwining stories from Caichiolo’s European and South American ancestry. Drawing inspiration from her grandmother’s needlework, the exhibition uses textiles and mixed media to evoke a sense of family history, cultural blending, and the passage of time.
Art collector/curator Homeira Goldstein and artist Marisa Caichiolo
The artwork reflects on themes of identity and belonging, inviting viewers to connect with their own personal histories and shared human experiences across generations and borders. Marisa Caichiolo is an accomplished artist and curator with a PhD in art history and psychology from the University of Buenos Aires. She has exhibited internationally at major biennials and institutions, including the Beijing Biennial, Sharjah Contemporary Art Museum, and MUSA Museum in Mexico. Caichiolo’s recent projects examine personal and collective memory using diverse materials and multimedia installations.
Luchi Estevez performs with a sound bowl during the artist presentation
Marisa Caichiolo is also the founder of Building Bridges International Art Foundation, an international non-profit organization based in Santa Monica, California. Building Bridges Art Exchange is dedicated to actively engaging diverse artists, leaders, audiences, and supporters through its mission of cultivating cultural understanding through the arts. The organization was launched to engage communities of different backgrounds in the exploration of contemporary art and programs to the art community.
Artist Marisa Caichiolo
Homeira Goldstein presents to the audience
TV host Joey Zhou, founder of the Los Angeles Beverly Arts (LABA), attended the event and invited several artists from overseas to attend the art exhibition by videoconference - Chun Liu, Jie Geng, Youben Hu, and Greenland Ge. LABA Advisor and art curator, Cynthia Penna, also attended the exhibition and met the artists.
Art curator Cynthia Penna with TV host Joey Zhou
Artist Marisa Caichiolo with artist Chun Lui attending by video conference
Art curator Cynthia Penna with artist Jie Geng, Overseas Art Envoy for LABA
Art curator Cynthia Penna with artist Youben Ju
Art curator Cynthia Penna with artist Greenland Ge
"Back to the Roots" will be exhibited at the Manhattan Beach Art Center October 25 through December 29, 2024. The event is free and open to the public. It is located at 1560 Manhattan Beach Boulevard, Manhattan Beach, CA 90266. For further information about the exhibition and the Manhattan Beach Art Center, please visit Exhibitions | City of Manhattan Beach or contact Eric Brinkman at 310-802-5404 or ebrinkman@manhattanbeach.gov.
Homeira Golstein and Joey Zhou with artwork by Marisa Caichiolo
About Homeira Goldstein
A descendent of the Qajar Royal Family in Middle East, Homeira Goldstein is an avid contemporary art collector, an artist in vision and nature, and a multi-talented force dedicated to the arts. She has an unrivaled reputation for promoting art and culture in South Bay and the Greater Los Angeles, and has been instrumental in creating opportunities for artists using her expertise in business, education, and the international art world. She is Chairman of the Board for the Manhattan Beach Art Center and TIME4ART, an educational art foundation, LABA Advisor, and has served on the boards of many arts organizations.
About the Manhattan Beach Art Center
The Manhattan Beach Art Center stands as a vibrant platform for artistic exploration and community engagement. Through exhibitions, workshops, and events, the center enriches the cultural fabric of Manhattan Beach and its surrounding areas.
The Beverly Arts News is sponsored by Qiuli Si Beverly Art Studio, MDSUN, and En Guangzhi Art Studio
Updated: Nov 11
Neon art sculpture by Risk Rock
Los Angeles, California, USA. 24th October, 2024. The Risk Rock Art Exhibition Opening "Celebrating 30 Years of Graffiti by Risk" was curated by Billy Gross of Universally Unknown, and Brian Esquivel at the Agora Gallery in Los Angeles, California. Artist Kelly "RISK" Graval has been synonymous with the Los Angeles art community for over 30 Years. From his early days as a founder of the West Coast Graffiti movement to gallery and museum exhibits around the globe, including the 2012 "Art In The Streets" at the LA MoCA and the hugely successful “Beyond The Streets” exhibits in Los Angeles and New York. His work is shown at top galleries in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Toronto, New York, Miami, and London. This exhibition includes a collaboration artwork with renowned neon artist Lisa Schulte, Los Angeles Beverly Arts Board member, also known as "The Neon Queen."
Artwork by Risk Rock
Collaboration artwork with Risk Rock and renowned neon artist Lisa Schulte
Artwork by Risk Rock
Neon sculpture and artwork by Risk Rock
Artwork by Risk Rock
Art curator Billy Gross with artwork by Risk Rock
TV host Joey Zhou, founder of the Los Angeles Beverly Arts (LABA) attended the exhibition with director/filmmaker and LABA Co-chairman Harrison Engle. They invited overseas artists from the LABA Biennial International Art Festival to attend the exhibition by video conference.
TV host Joey Zhou
Gallerist Issa Ababseh, TV host Joey Zhou, Director/filmmaker Harrison Engle, and art curator Billy Gross of Universally Unknown
Filmmaker/director Harrison Engle with artist Jie Geng, LABA Overseas Art Envoy attending by video conference
Art curator Billy Gross, Harrison Engle, and Issa Ababseh with artist Youben Hu attending by video conference
Art curator Billy Gross and director/filmmaker Harrison Engle with artist Greenland Ge attending by video conference
TV host Joey Zhou with artwork by Risk Rock
About Billy Gross and Universally Unknown
Billy Gross has been a long-standing activist for arts As an art director, advisor, agent and curator. He worked with bG Gallery located at Bergamot Station In Santa Monica for the past five years in the role as Director of Sales. Gross also started his own music and art management agency in 2016, Universally Unknown, that now represent 40 clients worldwide. Having an eye for developing artists and bringing their work to the blue-chip market, he has compiled a collector base of Fortune 500 CEOs. Hollywood’s finest and first-time collectors.
Gross has curated exhibitions for LA Art Show, SCOPE Miami, Art Palm Springs, and SCOPE New York, among many group and solo shows at galleries Throughout North America. Gross consults and works with advisors and galleries around the world including Sotheby’s, Lewis Wexler Gallery and the Basquiat Foundation. Being an early adopter of crypto and NFT’s he is looking forward to building a community that not only loves great art but understands that they have the ability to have an impact on the world as well. Before moving to Los Angeles, Gross came From a successful career in finance and advertising working with high net-worth individuals and top brands around the world Including Bank of America, Richard Mille, Red Bull, Under Armour and Avery Brewing.
The Beverly Arts News is sponsored by Qiuli Si Beverly Art Studio, MDSUN, and En Guangzhi Art Studio