Ember Wanbo Li
interdisciplinary Artist / Visual Designer
 






      







































Every frequency leaves a mark.
Emergence of the Finale IIMultisensory Interactive Installation
Mar 2026

Emergence of the Finale IIWater, stainless steel, vibration exciter, microphone, amplifier, spotlight

Emergence of the Finale II brings together water, light, and vibration to reveal the moment when energy assumes material form. The installation responds in real time to the audience’s voice and presence, creating an open feedback system in which viewers participate in the generation of form through cyclical vibration.


The Interval Between PathsSpatial Projection Installation
Mar 2026

The Interval Between PathsSilver Mirror, Moving Image, Projection


The Interval Between Paths is a site-specific spatial projection installation. A silent experimental moving image is projected onto a mirrored surface. Visual patterns generated through vibration persist as images in space after the original sound source has been removed. Reflected by the mirror, the projection disperses into the surrounding environment, forming multiple overlapping visual trajectories. The work explores the autonomous visual presence of vibrational patterns once detached from their sonic medium, as well as a suspended state of perception between image and space.



(Per)ceptual (Con)ductionInteractive Installation
Mar 2026

(Per)ceptual (Con)ductionWater, stainless steel, cymatics device, live camera, projector, PA system

(Per)ceptual (Con)duction is an interactive work in which touch functions as the mechanism of activation. The installation challenges the relationships between the body, media, and space. Conduction here refers both to an electrical circuits and to the flow of perception. The body operates simultaneously as an input interface that invites participation and as the necessary condition that triggers the system.



(Per)ceptual (Con)duction PerformanceLive Performance
Mar 2026

(Per)ceptual (Con)ductionWater, stainless steel, cymatics device, live camera, projector, PA system

(Per)ceptual (Con)duction is a live performance developed from the interactive installation of the same name. 

Structured around contact improvisation, the performers engage the installation through continuous bodily contact. Their touch activates the sonic system while simultaneously constituting the choreography itself. Bodily relations extend outward as sound; sound acts upon the water’s surface; the resulting patterns are projected into space.

Internal states of perception and external visual structures emerge at the same moment. Body, sound, and fluid patterns evolve together within a shared feedback loop.



Water Slices IIntaglio print 
Oct 2023

Water Slices IInk, Paper, Zinc Plate
297 X 420 mm

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 (2025 Re)Sculpture
Oct 2025

Water Slices II (2025 Re)Acrylic, LED Light, Wood Frame
30 X 30 X 4cm

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.


Emergence of the FinaleMultisensory Interactive Installation
May 2024

Emergence of the Finale
Water, Vibration Generator, Microphone, Amplifier, LED Spotlight, Resin, Mirror, Recycled Plastic, Organza. 

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.



(Bio) Resonance (Syn)thesisLive VJ Performance
Mar 2024

(Bio) Resonance (Syn)thesisWater, PA System , Seaweed, MIDI Controller, Cymatics Devices, Projector. Collabration project with Guski.

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. 

Sound Nihilation Multimedia Experimental Project
Jun 2022

Sound NihilationWater, Speaker Driver, Zine


Sound Nihilation is an experimental project that explores the potential of visual communication when sound loses its traditional functionality. By introducing non-representational souond 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.

Mattering Life
Hybrid Sculpture & Cymatics Micrography
Mar 2024

The SpringWater, Food Dyes, Oil, Petri Dish, Cymatics Devices.

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.
©EMBER2026vemberrrrr@gmail.com