May 2024
Emergence of the Finale is a mesmerizing multisensory installation that brings together the elements of water, light, and vibration in an exploration of harmony and interconnectedness. Inspired by Cymatics, it transforms intangible forces into a tangible, immersive experience, inviting participants to become both observers and creators within a dynamic system.
In a dimly lit space, a focused spotlight illuminates a shallow dish of water, casting intricate, ever-shifting reflections onto the walls. A suspended microphone serves as a bridge between the audience and the artwork, allowing participants to shape the water’s surface with their voices and movements. This interaction creates a continuous feedback loop, where sound generates ripples, ripples shape light, and light transforms the space—immersing participants in a poetic interplay of cause and effect.
At its heart, Emergence of the Finale is a meditation on resonance and flow, reflecting the endless cycles of energy that shape our world. It invites participants to pause and consider their place within these cycles—how every action ripples outward, how we influence and are influenced by the systems around us. It mirrors the natural rhythms of our ecosystems, emphasizing their beauty, fragility, and the importance of sustainable harmony.
Mar 2024
In a tactile investigation into the overlapping territories of Arts and Science, ‘(Bio) Resonance (Syn)thesis’ is a live performance piece comprised of audio material generated by the bio-sonification of living systems and a VJ interpretation using Cymatics.
Through Bio-sonification, exchanges between organic matter create a midi output that develop into expansive soundscapes. This is then presented as dynamic Cymatics figurations, manifesting sound as an intricate relationship between light, form and movement. Audience was invited to immerse themselves in a visceral exploration of the relationships between light and sound; matter and pressure – Art and Science.
Jun 2022
Sound Nihilation is an experimental project that explores the potential of visual communication when sound loses its traditional functionality. By introducing 'meaningless sound' and its visual representations, the project examines how audiovisual combinations can resonate with the audience’s senses and facilitate alternative forms of communication.
Rooted in reflections on nihilism, this project visualizes AI-generated voice readings of poetry through water ripples created by a custom-built device. The sound vibrations manipulate the water, which, when illuminated, produce dynamic visual patterns that are recorded as part of the artwork.
The core of the project is a self-assembled sound visualization unit inspired by Cymatics, a practice that demonstrates the visual impact of sound waves on physical mediums. By transforming sound into a visual experience, Sound Nihilation challenges conventional communication norms and invites audiences to engage with the interplay between sound, light, and water in new, thought-provoking ways.
Mar 2024
Re -Water, Food Dyes, Oil, Petri Dish, Cymatics Devices.
This two short films showcase biological rhythms evoked by the Cymatics model, simulating life’s dance in the "Primordial Soup." Using vibration as a creative force, dreamy pseudo-life forms were documented through a macro lens. These films capture the membranes, the individual “cells,” the interplay of intracellular and extracellular matrices, and the rhythms of frequency, breath, and movement, inviting viewers to reflect on life’s origin and essence.
As part of the 2024 Scientist in Residence Programme: Mattering Life, this collaborative project investigates the emergence of life—its rhythms, movements, and cycles—through an interdisciplinary approach. Our group explored themes and methods of presentation, combining diverse elements into a cohesive installation. My primary contributions included designing and constructing Cymatics devices, capturing film recordings and time-lapse photography, and assisting in the development of the overall installation and the holographic projection video.
Throughout the process, I also captured micrographs that reveal intricate details of the work, providing a closer look at the dynamic interplay of its components. The project examines the boundary between the living and the non-living, focusing on biological membranes and electrical potential differences—natural phenomena that drive the exchange of information and matter, fundamental to the operation of life.
2023 - 2024
Water Slices IISculpture. Acrylic, LED Light
Water Slices III3D print cymatics object, Quartz, LED Light,
Water Slices is a series of works that explore the visual and tactile language of water through different mediums and techniques, inspired by the principles of Cymatics—the study of visible sound vibrations. Each iteration in the series reimagines the intricate patterns created by sound waves, offering unique perspectives on the interplay between movement, materiality, and light.
- Water Slices I employs intaglio printing to capture the rhythmic and serial vibrational patterns of water ripples. These prints translate the ephemeral beauty of sound-induced water movement into a permanent, etched form, highlighting the relationship between sound, texture, and surface.
- Water Slices II transforms time-frozen water ripples into three-dimensional sculptures made of frosted acrylic. By slicing and reconfiguring the patterns into layered compositions, this work emphasizes the spatial dynamics of vibration and light. The interactive element of shifting light sources adds a playful dimension to the visual experimentation.
- Water Slices III integrates 3D-printed Cymatics objects, quartz, and LED lighting to create a sculptural installation that simulates the momentary vibrations of the water surface. Inspired by Marina Abramović's Five Stages of Maya Dance, this work captures the fleeting beauty of water’s interaction with sound, translating it into a meditative and visually striking experience.
Through Water Slices I, II, and III, the series offers a multifaceted exploration of how sound, light, and water converge to create dynamic and ever-changing patterns, inviting viewers to reflect on the transient yet tangible nature of these interactions.
Oct 2022
The consistency of the image became a crucial challenge in crafting this visual profile, demanding a delicate balance between structured design and emotional resonance. The process of training the AI incorporated my reflections on Gestalt principles and the visual hierarchy of monochrome, aiming to create a cohesive and evocative representation.
“Illusion collapses like mist at dawn,
where shadows fade, where light has drawn
the fragile walls we built from dreams,
and truth unwinds in silent streams.
Layers peel, like whispered lies,
falling down from painted skies,
revealing scars, the cracks, the seams,
the secrets lost in hidden schemes.
Each veil undone, a story breaks,
where every tremor softly wakes
the parts of us we long forgot,
untangling all the tangled knots.
Illusion falls—a fragile art,
a breath, a pulse, a quickened heart.
And as it fades, what’s left behind?
Just the bare, unguarded mind.”
May 2022
This project, part of a Riso-printed self-published zine, challenges the homogenization of color in cultural perceptions and cognitive understanding. By deconstructing the traditional representation of red—the shortest and most widely recognized wavelength in visible light—it reimagines its role in a 'disintegrated' color landscape. This work explores how the absence or transformation of red disrupts visual cognition and provokes reflection on cultural and linguistic associations with color.
Incorporating Gestalt principles and a focus on the visual hierarchy of monochrome, the project uses red/blue filters to offer an interactive experience. Viewers are invited to engage with a layered, expandable format that reveals a world where red is hidden or faded, challenging traditional color hierarchies. This interaction emphasizes the dynamic interplay between red and blue, allowing audiences to uncover hidden layers while reflecting on the origins and stereotypes of color.
Through the fusion of design, printmaking, and experimentation, the zine not only redefines red's visual language but also provokes thought about its composition, cultural significance, and the way it shapes our perception of the world. The result is a bold and thought-provoking exploration of color as both a medium and a message.
2019
The Trilogy is a series of handmade books exploring the universal fear of death and the discomfort of facing its inevitability. Through visual and tactile storytelling, the trilogy examines themes of decay, fragility, and transformation, transforming the abstract concept of death into tangible, thought-provoking works of art.
The three books—Diffusion and Wither Away, Body Necrosis, and Annihilation—use unique materials and techniques to symbolize the fragility of life and the passage of time:
Diffusion and Wither Away
This book captures the ephemeral nature of life through layered textiles. Delicate red threads weave through translucent materials, mimicking organic patterns of decay. The intricate designs invite viewers to reflect on the transient beauty of existence as it dissolves over time.
Body Necrosis
Using rust-stained fabrics, this book explores the traces left by the erosion of life. Metal objects pressed into the fabric create permanent imprints, symbolizing the irreversible effects of decay. These marks serve as metaphors for the remnants we leave behind as our physical presence fades.
Annihilation
Charred and perforated pages created with a soldering pen illustrate destruction and transformation. The burned edges symbolize the disintegration of the body, while a red thread running through the book signifies hope and continuity. Morse code cutouts at the end spell the word "hope," offering a moment of solace within the narrative of mortality.
Together, The Trilogy offers a compelling reflection on the fragility of life, the inevitability of decay, and the potential for finding meaning and hope amidst the reality of death. By confronting mortality in visual and physical forms, the project invites viewers to engage deeply with the human condition and embrace life with greater awareness and acceptance.
李万博 LI, Wanbo
also known as Ember
She/They
Ember has an interdisciplinary background that bridges art, design, and engineering. They hold an MA in Art and Science with Distinction from Central Saint Martins, where they explored the integration of scientific concepts into creative practices. Additionally, they earned a Postgraduate Diploma in Design for Visual Communication with Merit from London College of Communication, focusing on innovative approaches to visual storytelling. Their journey began with a Bachelor’s degree in Printing Engineering, graduating with top honors from the Beijing Institute of Graphic Communication, which provided a strong foundation in technical processes and material experimentation. This unique combination of disciplines enables Ember to create thought-provoking works that merge scientific inquiry, material exploration, and creative innovation.
Ember’s art and design practice is interdisciplinary, exploring themes such as cymatics, audiovisual art, and interactive installations, with a focus on science visualization, kinetic art, and multisensory environments that merge digital-analog techniques, generative processes, and immersive storytelling, often incorporating elements of light, sound, and fluid dynamics to create transformative, site-specific, and emotionally resonant experiences.
also known as Ember
She/They
Ember has an interdisciplinary background that bridges art, design, and engineering. They hold an MA in Art and Science with Distinction from Central Saint Martins, where they explored the integration of scientific concepts into creative practices. Additionally, they earned a Postgraduate Diploma in Design for Visual Communication with Merit from London College of Communication, focusing on innovative approaches to visual storytelling. Their journey began with a Bachelor’s degree in Printing Engineering, graduating with top honors from the Beijing Institute of Graphic Communication, which provided a strong foundation in technical processes and material experimentation. This unique combination of disciplines enables Ember to create thought-provoking works that merge scientific inquiry, material exploration, and creative innovation.
Ember’s art and design practice is interdisciplinary, exploring themes such as cymatics, audiovisual art, and interactive installations, with a focus on science visualization, kinetic art, and multisensory environments that merge digital-analog techniques, generative processes, and immersive storytelling, often incorporating elements of light, sound, and fluid dynamics to create transformative, site-specific, and emotionally resonant experiences.
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