Press release of “Overhead Infrastructure” (2023) at C5CNM, Beijing 

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C5CNM is pleased to present Xindi Li’s solo project “Overhead Infrastructure” from June 17th to July 16th, 2023. The project showcases three new installation works created this year. In this group of works, Li continues to explore his interest in elements that are often regarded as “default settings” in spaces that are designated to exhibiting contemporary art. For this particular occasion, he focuses on the professional-grade lighting facilities that are widely equipped in various exhibition venues. Intentionally transferring these specific objects that are normally located at the upper margin of the space to the center of the audience’s viewing angle, the artist wants to separate the spotlights and light rails from their subordinate status and functional context, and make them the main components of his works.

Employing such formal tactics, Li further looks into another type of "invisible" existence in the usage scenarios of high-altitude lighting facilities, that is, human labor generated by the installation and maintenance of such infrastructure. The artist juxtaposes the safety harness used for overhead operations and the facilities that require such operation, the lighting fixtures, in the same works, so as to establish a connection between the two, making the bodily experience of those who professionally offer services to exhibition venues sharable, and the potential risk of personal injury in their workplaces visible.  

In addition to the works, a selection of notes written and collected by Li during the creation of this group of works is presented in the form of printed text. Through these notes, the artist hopes to share more fragments of thought about his subjects with the viewers.