Tiejun Li's Sky Supermarket: A Philosophical Reflection on Art

Author: KAILI.M

In the vast universe of contemporary art, Tiejun Li’s Sky Supermarket shines like a unique star, radiating profound philosophical insights and provoking deep contemplation on the essence of art within the international art community. When we examine Tiejun Li's Sky Supermarket, his deep insight into the fusion of reality and the virtual world is immediately apparent. In today’s digital and AI-driven age, supermarkets are no longer restricted to traditional physical spaces. The rise of online supermarkets has erased the boundaries of time and space. Tiejun Li captures this transformation with precision, presenting a fusion of the bustling, tangible energy of physical supermarkets alongside the surreal convenience of their virtual counterparts. This interplay between reality and the virtual challenges our ingrained perceptions of existence and appearance.

From an art theory perspective, Sky Supermarket is a powerful metaphor. It transcends its identity as a mere space for commerce, evolving into a crossroads of social relationships, human desires, and cultural values. Here, decisions are influenced not only by the utility of products but also by the symbolic power of branding, packaging, and advertising. This reflects the confusion and pursuit prevalent in consumer societies, while also unveiling the hidden power structures and ideologies behind the façade.

Artist Tiejun Li

Tiejun Li’s artistic methods are equally rich with philosophical significance. He applies contemporary art concepts to bridge thought, text, and the reconfiguration of relationships between objects and actions. By digitizing and restructuring human interaction in hyper-spatial awareness, Li forges a connection between business and art. His work moves beyond early theoretical ideas, becoming a part of daily life itself. The participants in his pieces are real consumers—the users of the products. Nothing changes in the familiar supermarket scene, yet this work prompts us to reflect on our dual roles as both consumers and co-creators of art. It raises important questions: Are we active contributors to this era or passive recipients? These reflections lie at the heart of Li’s creative vision.

Artist Tiejun Li in the studio

On a deeper level, Tiejun Li’s supermarket works engage with philosophical questions of time and space. In this hybrid environment where the virtual and the real intertwine, time feels both compressed and extended, and spatial boundaries blur. We have instant access to global product information, yet we also experience the fleeting nature of time and the disorientation of space in the face of endless choices.

On an even more profound philosophical level, Li’s Sky Supermarket may be a reflection on the essence of human existence. In a world overflowing with material temptations and an information overload, how do we maintain what we call our authentic self? Are we consumed by insatiable desires, or can we uphold the tranquility and clarity that traditional culture advocates in the midst of complexity?

In conclusion, Tiejun Li’s Sky Supermarket, with its unique perspective and profound meaning, opens a multidimensional door to philosophical inquiry. It invites us to re-examine the surface of life, seek the truths hidden beneath, and reflect on the critical role art plays in revealing the meaning of human existence. This is a masterpiece that bridges the virtual and the real, and as an art critic, I foresee that Tiejun Li’s Sky Supermarket, building on the foundation of his Fog series, will become a significant work in the international art world.

As Tiejun Li aptly puts it: “In my work, there are only participants, no spectators.”

—KAILI.M

New.ArtPhilosophy

October 18, 2024

Note: Tiejun Li is the Overseas Art Consultant to the Los Angeles Beverly Arts (LABA). His name in the article was changed from the Chinese version Li Tiejun to the English version Tiejun Li.

The Beverly Arts News is sponsored by Qiuli Si Beverly Art Studio, MDSUN, and En Guangzhi Art Studio