Yibei Liu
Where do you live: London, UK
Your education: 2023 BA (Hons) Ceramic Design First Class Honours, Central Saint Martins, London, UK
Describe your art in three words: Quirky, metaphorical, universal
Your discipline: Sculpture
Website | Instagram
Your sculptures often explore the feelings of being trapped in negative emotional loops. Could you share more about how these emotions translate into your work visually?
The feeling of being trapped in negative emotional loops is something I deeply relate to, and it translates into my sculptures through the forms, compositions, and textures I create. Visually, these emotions are often expressed through constricted or repetitive elements, distorted proportions, or figures caught in dynamic yet cyclical motions. For example, in some of my works, limbs may be bound, twisted, or appear incomplete, reflecting a sense of limitation and emotional struggle.
I also use repetitive forms or gestures to mirror the repetitive nature of negative thoughts or behaviors. This repetition can appear in coiling techniques, with layers of clay building up in a way that reflects the slow accumulation of unresolved emotions. Fragmentation or disconnection within the figure—such as separated body parts or disturbingly bubbling forms—symbolizes the disconnection one might feel from themselves when trapped in these emotional loops.
Textures, too, play a crucial role. Rough, uneven surfaces might represent internal turbulence, while smoother, more polished areas could signify moments of clarity or fleeting emotional resolution. Through these visual choices, I aim to evoke the tension and complexity of emotional entrapment, inviting viewers to connect with these internal struggles on a personal level.
Yibei Liu, Untitled 10How does your personal experience with mental health shape the narrative of your sculptures?
Through my work, I aim to externalize the internal struggles that often remain hidden. Sculpting becomes a medium to explore emotions like anxiety, frustration, and self-doubt—feelings that many experience but hesitate to openly discuss. By confronting these emotions through the creative process, I bring attention to how societal pressures and personal battles impact mental well-being.
The themes in my sculptures often reflect the conflict between societal expectations and personal identity, mirroring my own journey of self-awareness. For instance, the recurring use of anthropomorphized elements, such as the abstract form of the brain, allows me to personify the subconscious forces that drive behavior and a as metaphor of the chaotic mindset during depression. This exploration of mental health is not just an abstract concept in my work; it’s a deeply personal narrative that emerges as I process my own emotional landscape.
Ultimately, I hope my sculptures prompt viewers to reflect on their mental health and the pressures they face, encouraging open dialogue around mental health and destigmatizing the conversation around it.
You mention self-healing as part of your creative process. How does sculpting help you in this journey?
Actually, it is coiling that is the primary technique in my creative practice plays a crucial role in my self-healing journey. It is a slow, deliberate process that allows for deep reflection and ongoing refinement, distinguishing it from faster techniques in ceramics. Each coil represents a step in decision-making, where I can rethink, adjust, and respond to the material in real-time. This iterative process mirrors life’s continuous decisions and challenges, making the act of creation a powerful emotional experience.
Throughout this journey, I encounter a full spectrum of emotions—frustration when the clay collapses, disappointment in repeated failures, surprise at the unexpected beauty of a glaze, and the satisfaction of completing a piece. These experiences infuse the final work with personal depth and significance.
Moreover, exposing my inner thoughts and emotions through my artwork is akin to a form of desensitization therapy. By sharing vulnerable aspects of myself with an audience, I build the capacity to confront difficult emotions that I might otherwise resist. Over time, this process has helped me to better face and navigate my own emotional landscape, allowing for personal growth and a deeper understanding of the strength that comes from confronting challenges head-on.
Yibei Liu, Untitled 7Can you explain the specific techniques or materials you use to evoke the emotions of entrapment and release in your sculptures?
In my work, I use coiling to convey feelings of entrapment and release. Coiling is a slow, repetitive process where layers build up, symbolizing the accumulation of emotions and the sense of being trapped. I also use texture contrasts to express emotional shifts—rough or cracked surfaces represent internal chaos and confinement, while smooth surfaces suggest release and calm.
In your current project, you explore the relationship between emotions, actions, and their psychological reasons. What have you learned through this exploration?
As I began delving into this project, one of my initial ideas focused on the psychological reasons behind certain behaviors, like flashing. In everyday perception, flashers are often seen as inappropriate or repulsive, leading to avoidance and condemnation. However, as I researched the pathological causes of such behavior, I was struck by how deeply rooted these issues can be, often tracing back to childhood trauma or unresolved psychological conflicts. This discovery shifted my perspective, allowing me to understand the complexity behind human actions that are typically stigmatized.
This exploration has expanded my interest beyond my personal emotions to a broader focus on the human condition. It has encouraged me to investigate the sociological and psychological underpinnings of behaviors that are often dismissed or misunderstood. I’ve also begun studying concepts like Alfred Adler’s Individual Psychology, which emphasizes the influence of early experiences on behavior, and Mass Psychology, which examines how societal pressures shape individual mental states. These studies have enriched my understanding of how deeply interconnected our emotions, actions, and social environments are, and they continue to inspire my work as I explore the complex layers of human behavior.
Yibei Liu, Untitled 1Your work sends a message of “you are not alone.” How do you hope your audience will connect with your sculptures on a personal level?
As a very personal and introverted individual, I often find it challenging to open up, even to those I’m close to. It takes time for me to lower my guard, and finding the right moment with an appropriate icebreaker is crucial in starting those deeper conversations. Talking about someone else’s emotions serves as an easier gateway and often becomes a way for me to ease into sharing my own experiences. From my perspective, discussing another’s emotions can plant a seed, encouraging them to reflect on their feelings.
This process can bring thoughts from the subconscious to the forefront of the mind, leading to a more active reflection and possibly a shift in perspective. By making those hidden emotions conscious, it can aid in the reconstruction of one’s mindset, a process that I find central to both my personal interactions and the narratives in my artwork.
As a figurative sculptor, how do you strike a balance between abstraction and representation in your work?
As a figurative sculptor, I strike a balance between abstraction and representation by blending recognizable human forms with more abstract elements that symbolize or helps illustrate psychological and emotional states. The human figure serves as a familiar entry point for viewers, allowing them to connect with the work on a personal level. However, I introduce abstraction—through exaggerated or distorted features, symbolic objects, or fragmented forms—to convey deeper, more intangible ideas.
This balance allows me to explore complex concepts like mental health, conformity, or societal pressures without being overly literal. For instance, in my project, while the human figure is clearly represented, the bubbly form of the brain, symbolizing unconscious chaotic thoughts on the back of one’s mind. This blend of realism and abstraction helps to provoke thought and invite personal interpretation while maintaining a connection to the physical and emotional reality of the human condition.
Yibei Liu, Untitled 3
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