Danting Li

Danting Li | A Road To Nowhere | 2025

Your artistic statement mentions combining symbolic abstraction with pixel art precision. How did you arrive at this unique visual language?

I developed this visual language by merging my interest in symbolic abstraction with the disciplined precision of pixel art. My process often begins with breaking down a larger subject into its most essential traits—distilling complex forms into abstract yet highly symbolic shapes. From there, I translate these distilled symbols through the structured lens of pixel art, which allows me to preserve clarity and intentionality while also embracing a distinct digital aesthetic. This approach enables me to communicate meaning in a way that is both minimal and visually striking, creating a dialogue between tradition and contemporary digital expression. Ultimately, I enjoy this language because it lets me balance simplicity with depth, giving viewers room to interpret while still anchoring the work in recognizable symbolic forms.

Danting Li | Behind Love | 2025

Several of your works, such as Coral Bleaching, address ecological fragility. What role do you see design and art playing in raising awareness about environmental issues?

I believe design and art play a powerful role in raising awareness about environmental issues because they can transform abstract concerns into visceral, memorable experiences. By using dramatic and imaginative visual styles, I aim to amplify the urgency of ecological fragility, such as Coral Bleaching, and make these invisible or distant problems feel immediate and personal to viewers. Art has the ability to bypass technical language and statistics, speaking directly to emotion and empathy, which can inspire reflection and even action. In this sense, design and art become a form of activism—bringing hidden crises to the forefront, sparking conversations, and encouraging people to reconsider their relationship with the environment.

How does your experience in branding, UI/UX, and motion graphics influence the way you approach conceptual art projects?

My background in branding, UI/UX, and motion graphics strongly shapes how I approach conceptual art projects because it has trained me to think across multiple dimensions—technical, aesthetic, and experiential. Branding work has taught me how to distill complex ideas into clear, impactful visuals while also balancing client needs, audience perception, and practical constraints like budget. UI/UX has sharpened my ability to design with empathy, always considering how people interact with and interpret visual language. Motion graphics, on the other hand, expanded my understanding of rhythm, pacing, and storytelling in a dynamic way. When I shift to conceptual art, these experiences allow me to explore ideas with both creative freedom and disciplined design thinking, giving me the flexibility to push beyond surface aesthetics while still communicating meaning in an engaging, accessible way.

Danting Li | Coral Bleaching | 2025

Collaboration is central in design practice. How do you navigate the differences between working on commercial projects for clients and personal conceptual artworks?

When working on commercial projects, collaboration naturally involves balancing the perspectives of multiple stakeholders—clients, business goals, budgets, and technical limitations all play a central role, and the client’s vision ultimately guides the direction. This requires me to adapt, negotiate, and design within constraints while still finding creative solutions. In contrast, personal conceptual artworks give me the freedom to work from a place of pure expression, where the focus is entirely on the idea and how effectively I can convey it to an audience without external limitations. The two approaches are very different, but I see value in both: commercial projects sharpen my problem-solving and adaptability, while personal work allows me to explore deeper artistic questions and push the boundaries of my own voice.

Danting Li | Familiar Yet Far | 2025

As both a designer and co-founder at SparksGlo, how do you manage the tension between creative freedom and business goals?

As a co-founder, I recognize that business goals are vital because they directly impact the company’s growth and sustainability, so they often need to be prioritized first. At the same time, I believe creative freedom is essential—not only for artistic integrity but also for driving innovation and long-term value. If we only chase short-term business objectives, we risk losing the originality that makes our work stand out. I try to manage this tension by treating it as a balancing act: respecting deadlines, budgets, and client needs while still protecting space for experimentation and artistic exploration. In my experience, the strongest outcomes often emerge when creative freedom and business strategy inform each other, resulting in work that is both commercially successful and artistically meaningful.

Your works often invite reflection on human vulnerability and resilience. Do you see your art more as a mirror of your personal experiences or as a universal commentary?

I see my art as both a universal commentary and, at times, a reflection of my personal journey. Works like Coral Bleaching, Her Pain, The Bleeding Hearts, Lit by Love, and Behind Love are created to address collective concerns and emotions, inviting viewers to reflect on human vulnerability and resilience in a broader, shared context. At the same time, pieces such as Neon Dreamscape, A Road to Nowhere, Familiar Yet Far, and Embrace the Infinite are more personal in nature, shaped by my own memories, dreams, and inner reflections. In these, I translate my imagination and lived experiences into visual form. Together, these two approaches allow my practice to oscillate between the intimate and the universal—using art both as a mirror of my inner world and as a platform to speak to themes that resonate across humanity.

Danting Li | Neon Dreamscape | 2025

What role does color theory play in shaping the emotional resonance of your works?

Color theory plays a central role in how I shape the emotional impact of my works. I often employ strong contrasts to guide the viewer’s eye and highlight the areas I want them to focus on, using color almost as a form of visual punctuation. Beyond directing attention, I see color as a powerful emotional language—capable of heightening mood, tension, or empathy. For example, in Her Pain, I use deep red tones to intensify the raw emotion of the tears, while in The Bleeding Hearts, red becomes symbolic of both fragility and suffering, evoking the visceral presence of blood. Through these choices, color becomes more than an aesthetic decision; it is a deliberate tool to amplify the narrative and immerse viewers in the psychological and emotional landscape of each piece.