Manman Li

Year of birth: 1999.
Where do you live: California.
Your education: Pratt Institute.
Describe your art in three words: Dynamic, Emotional, Interactive.
Your discipline: Interactive Digital Art.
Website

Your works often explore the intersection of technology, identity, and memory. How do you approach blending these themes in your interactive installations?

For example, in my recent exhibition at the National Art Museum of China, The Dance of Paper Kites: An Interactive Awakening(玩趣·交互蝶代）, I transformed the museum’s collection of traditional butterfly kites into an interactive installation. Every day, thousands of visitors engage with it. The installation combines the latest gesture recognition technology with a game engine, using projections to showcase the charm of Chinese folk art in an innovative way. These paper kites are not just kites—they carry the memories of the Chinese people, embodying a deep sense of cultural identity and connection. By using modern media and new technologies, we can bring these long-forgotten artworks back to life, allowing more people to appreciate and experience them. As an interactive artist, this is one of the most rewarding aspects of my work.

Exhibiting at the National Art Museum of China is a big honor for any artist. Could you please share more details about the creation process and the exhibition setup for this piece?

This experience was truly a mix of luck and challenges. As an artist based in California, I couldn’t believe it when I first received an invitation from the National Art Museum of China, one of the most prestigious art institutions in my home country. It felt surreal until Ms. Chen Zhen, the director of the Folk Art Department, personally reached out to invite me to create an interactive installation for their Spring Festival exhibition. That’s when I realized this incredible opportunity was real and began dedicating myself to the project.

As an interactive artist, I worked closely with the curator to discuss the theme and details of the exhibition, titled “Four Seasons of Play” (四时玩趣). We ultimately decided to use the museum’s collection of butterfly kites as the creative material. In my work, these butterfly kites were transformed into an interactive installation where visitors could control the movement of the kites in a projection using hand gestures. This added an engaging and playful element to the exhibition.

Of course, the project wasn’t without its challenges. There were two major hurdles:

1. Tight schedule: From finalizing the concept to completing the installation, I had only five days. This included extensive testing to ensure the equipment could handle interactions from a large number of visitors without any issues.

2. Lack of equipment: This was the museum’s first time inviting an artist to create an interactive piece based on their collection, so there wasn’t any suitable hardware available. We had to rent a computer, which involved strict approval processes. Fortunately, everything came together in the end.

I’m deeply grateful to the curators and the Folk Art Department team for their support and encouragement. Without their help, I wouldn’t have been able to complete this project within such a tight timeframe.

During the setup phase, everything went surprisingly smoothly. Although setting up interactive installations can be complex due to the multiple devices involved—such as projectors, computers, and motion-detection equipment like Leap Motion—the museum staff were incredibly experienced and efficient. They quickly devised practical solutions and executed them flawlessly, ensuring the installation was ready on time.

Manman Li | Manipulate | 2022

Could you tell us more about your interactive installation The Dance of Paper Kites: An Interactive Awakening (玩趣·交互蝶代)? What emotions or experiences do you aim to evoke in the audience?

Thank you for your interest in The Dance of Paper Kites: An Interactive Awakening (玩趣·交互蝶代). This piece was created to bring the beauty and cultural significance of traditional Chinese butterfly kites into the digital age. Using advanced hand-tracking technology and a game engine, the installation allows audiences to control the movement of the kites through simple hand gestures, creating a dynamic and immersive experience.

The work is designed to evoke a sense of wonder and nostalgia. On one hand, it celebrates the craftsmanship and history of Chinese folk art, reminding viewers of the deep cultural roots embodied in these kites. On the other hand, it invites reflection on how technology transforms the way we interact with and perceive traditional art forms.

I aimed to create a space where audiences could not only appreciate the beauty of these kites but also feel a personal connection to them. By actively engaging with the installation, they become part of the artwork, experiencing the interplay between heritage and innovation. This combination of interactivity, cultural storytelling, and technology sparks curiosity and joy, making art more accessible and relatable to people of all ages.

Manman Li | Bully Machine | 2023

Your art emphasizes fleeting moments and human connections. How do you translate such abstract concepts into visually engaging digital installations?

Fleeting moments and human connections are universal experiences, yet they are deeply personal and ephemeral. Translating these abstract ideas into digital installations requires a balance of technology and storytelling.

I often begin with a narrative or emotion I want to convey—whether it’s the transient beauty of a butterfly’s flight or the subtle ways we connect in a digital space. Then, I use technology as a medium to bring these ideas to life. For example, I incorporate dynamic elements like motion, light, and sound to create environments that respond to the audience’s presence and actions in real time. These sensory interactions mirror the delicate and ever-changing nature of human experiences.

Interactivity plays a key role. By inviting the audience to engage with the artwork—whether through gestures, movement, or other forms of participation—I aim to make the abstract tangible. The experience becomes deeply personal, as each person’s interaction shapes their unique journey within the installation.

Ultimately, my goal is to create spaces where people can pause and reflect on the beauty of these fleeting moments, fostering a sense of connection both with the artwork and with each other.