Yichen Li is a Chinese fashion designer. From a young age she has shown a unique style of painting, photography and design. Constantly exploring herself and maintaining a rebellious spirit is the main thrust of her artistic pursuits. Yichen went to Jiangnan University to study Fashion Design in 2015 and began to pursue her dream of becoming a fashion designer. Her major in undergraduate studies was Fashion Design and Technology, which is actually an engineering major. Her work is inspired by some painful and deep memories from her childhood and her attempt to heal herself in a beautiful way. Her time as a Graduate at the School of Art Institute of Chicago provided space for her to continue exploring ideas through installation, visual imagery and garment.
CUT & MEND
2021, digital printing fabrics, womenswear
CUT & MEND
2021, digital printing fabrics, womenswear
CUT & MEND
2021, digital printing fabrics, womenswear
CUT & MEND
2021, digital printing fabrics, womenswear
CUT & MEND
2021, digital printing fabrics, womenswear
CUT & MEND
2021, digital printing fabrics, womenswear
CUT & MEND
2021, digital printing fabrics, womenswear
CUT & MEND
2021, SAIC Graduate Exhibition
Last year I saw some news about bullying in middle school. The news reminded me of some things I experienced when I was in primary school. When I was young, I had black and long hair. One day in class, a boy sitting behind me cut my hair with scissors. I was sad for a long time and my parents were very angry when they heard about it, but the teachers and the parents of the boy thought it was just a “joke”. And the naughty boy did it because he just wanted to get my attention. I never got a formal apology from the boy. The work I displayed for this Graduate Exhibition includes a collection of garments and two large posters. In this collection, I use some manipulation like smocking, shirring, triangle hand sewing on the rough edges. The unique digital print pattern highlights the painful feeling of memories. These two posters can be seen as an emotional expression and a reminder of some unforgettable moments.
Painful memories bloom in the healing of time. I hope that people can understand that being young and naughty is not an excuse to cover up mistakes, and that physical or mental harm can never be explained by “joke.”