Since 2019 tubular shapes reminiscent of ventilation tubes have has played a significant role in shaping Mingshu Li’s artistic practice. Inspired by the ubiquitous ventilation pipes adorning buildings and streets throughout Oslo, these structures, whether black or adorned with street art, stand as integral elements in the urban landscapes. Mingshu Li’s creative process can be described as a process of shaping clay to wrap around empty space. This space had been routinely overlooked until she transformed the void space into a part of the sculpture. Two holes serve as connectors, sparking conversations between the inside and outside, leading gazes to the overlooked empty spaces. In this way, the tube holes expand the scope of the sculptures without relying on mass, transforming the air around the sculpture into an integral part of the work.

Embracing the expansive nature of ceramic materials, Mingshu Li ventures into diverse clay-shaping techniques. After encountering the clay extruder, a pivotal revelation emerged: the extruder is a tool seamlessly merging "holes" and "airflow" in one fluid motion —extrusion. As clay meets the extruder, its reaction reveals its inherent strength. Air bubbles burst within, etching airflow tales onto the tubular form. Li can shape the tube's curvature by adjusting clay plasticity and the extruder's angles. Yet, its specific form remains an enigma, a product of the intricate interplay between components, adding an element of unpredictability to Mingshu Li's artistic process.

Mingshu Li (b. 1994), is an emerging ceramic artist based in Oslo. She graduated MFA Masters in Medium and Material Based Art at the Oslo National Academy of the Arts in 2020. She has participated in exhibitions for the past five years both nationally and internationally. Her works are represented in the El Vendrell Municipal Art Collection in Spain, KODE Art Museums in Norway, and Jingdezhen Ceramic University Museum in China.

The exhibition is supported by Arts Council Norway and Visual artists' Remuneration Fund.

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PAINTERLY II

Lydia SooJin Park, Ingrid Toogood, Mingxuan Tan,

Liv Tandrevold Eriksen

15 August – 14 September

Private view 15 August, 6-8 pm

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Welcome to the second installment of a group exhibition that showcases the interrelationship between painting and ceramic, highlighting painterly gesture and coloristic experiments in paint and glaze. The exhibition presents the work of four up-and coming artists, two ceramicists and two painters.

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Lydia SooJin Park (b. 1989, Seoul) is a ceramic artist based in Oslo. The natural world and the everyday objects around her deeply influence her work. Lydia earned a BFA from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago in 2013, an MA from Hongik University in Seoul in 2021, and an MFA from the Oslo National Academy of the Arts in 2023. Her work has been showcased internationally in cities including London, Seoul, Trondheim, Bergen, and Zurich, and is part of prominent collections such as KODE Bergen, Nordenfjeldske Kunstindustrimuseum, and Universal Ballet.

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Ingrid Toogood (b. 1976, Sola) is a visual artist based in Stavanger. She graduated from the Oslo National Academy of the Arts and works with painting, sculpture, installation, and performance. Known for her use of trompe-l’oeil effect, cut-outs, and mirrors, she explores themes of depth and spatial relationships. Toogood has exhibited at venues like LNM, Kristiansand Kunsthall, and Stavanger Kunstmuseum. Her work is included in collections at Stavanger Kunstmuseum and the University of Oslo. She also works as a theater painter and curator at Rogaland Teater.

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Mingxuan Tan (b. 1995, Datong, China) is an Oslo-based artist who explores personal mythology through her work. She graduated MFA from the Oslo National Academy of the Arts and her BFA from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Her sculptures and installations focus on the interaction between the physical body and objects, influenced by memories, dreams, and the collective unconscious. Mingxuan's art has been in exhibitions across the U.S., Italy, Canada, Ecuador, and Norway.

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Liv Tandrevold Eriksen (b. 1976, Oslo) is an Oslo-based artist who graduated from KHIO Institute of colour. Initially starting her career as a drafter, she now focuses on large-scale abstract paintings and textile sculptures. Her work blends painting with textile elements, including sewn canvas pieces and multi-colored fabric. This approach merges painting and sculpture while exploring references to fashion and sportswear. Her art is included in collections such as Statens Kunstråd, Norsk Kulturråd, and Equinor.