Effie Wanyi Li

two paintings on the wall, my installation view

Effie Wanyi Li (b.1995) is a Chinese artist based in London.

She received a BA in Fine Art from Central Saint Martins College of Art & Design in 2019 and is currently studying an MA in Painting at the Royal College of Art.

Effie's paintings reflect her strong passion for investigating the internal mechanisms of the body, both physical and psychological. Her practice often focuses on exploring the alternative structure of the inner human body and its reaction caused by mental states. Effie's work aims to make sense of how human beings actually function, using painting as a synchronous dialogue with her body and mind.

I began painting two years ago during a period in which I was of grappling with anxiety. This manifested itself as a series of bodily reactions. The experience momentarily perplexed me, raising questions about the origin of my distress—whether it stemmed from the physical or mental realm—and how these two aspects intertwine and influence each other.

To this day, I still lack a definitive answer, as I cannot comprehend life forms beyond the dimensions of my existence. However, with each attempt to bring those images from my mind onto canvas, using subtle bodily perceptions and emotions, I find myself gradually inching closer to that intangible connection between my body and mind.

If the body is currently the only available container for carrying my life, I wish to leave behind more records within it. In this unknown inner world that I can only access through consciousness, I observe the dynamics that my emotions, memories, and thoughts bring to the internal world of the body.

Painting, as a powerful medium to communicate the intimate connection between the physical and the expressive aspects of the self, faithfully reflects every state of my body and mind. It has become the most reliable way for me to continue this exploration in my ongoing journey of life.