Installation Effect of POSITION

Through abstract consciousness and visual artistic shaping, Li Jiwei's latest work "Position"(2023-2025) presents an asymmetrical form that transcends the esthetic and functional expectations of a traditional seat. By incorporating diverse material textures, transparent perspectives, and the expressive allure of painted color, Li expands the visual perception of seating—infusing the object with broader, more nuanced meanings of "Position," while constructing a dialogue with the spatial environment of CAFA Art Museum.

Li Jiwei, Position, 2023-2025. Acrylic, 63 x 87 x 125cm.

Li Jiwei, Position, 2023-2025. Acrylic, 63 x 87 x 125cm.

Unveiled on December 6, 2025, the opening ceremony was attended by Beate Marold, Counselor of the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany in China, and his husband Klaus Marold; Katharina Weiner, Counselor of the Embassy of Austria in China; Jin Jun, Director of CAFA Art Museum; Wang Chuan, Director of the Department of International Cooperation and Exchange; Gao Yang, Deputy Dean of the School of City Design, CAFA; Gao Gao, Deputy Director of CAFA Art Museum; artist Li Jiwei, as well as artists, researchers, and curators active in the contemporary art field. Yi Yue, Deputy Director of the Research and Planning Department of CAFA Art Museum, served as the host.

Yi Yue, Deputy Director of the Curatorial and Research Department of CAFA Art Museum, served as the host.

The Group Photo of Honored Guests

Exhibition View

This is the second solo exhibition of Li Jiwei at CAFA Art Museum following "Mozart-Gene" was successfully held in 2021. Li Jiwei transforms abstract thought into sensory experience, and he takes use of seat as a medium for conveying emotion and expressing personal spiritual reflection. Through a free and unrestrained approach, a new artistic perception of the seat is created within spatial environments...

Gao Gao, Deputy Director of the CAFA Art Museum

Gao Gao, Deputy Director of the CAFA Art Museum, stated in her speech that this project with distinct colors and spatial treatment injected fresh vitality into the overall visual atmosphere of CAFA Art Museum and activated the perceptual potential of the venue.

Beate Marold, Counselor of the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany in China

Beate Marold, Counselor of the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany in China, mentioned in her speech that, "Position" is more than an interdisciplinary installation as it denotes the basic need of human beings for freedom and the corresponding right to have a place in the world, prompting visitors to reflect on their own positions in both concrete and abstract senses.

Gao Yang, Vice Dean of the School of City Design at CAFA

Gao Yang, Vice Dean of the School of City Design at CAFA, expressed that through the ingenious arrangement and application of colors spread the Museum, Li Jiwei's work endowed every corner with implicit layering and warmly invited visitors to experience surprises through their own exploration.

Jin Jun, Director of CAFA Art Museum

Jin Jun, Director of CAFA Art Museum, emphasized that this project combines a new form of artwork with the museum space, and he expressed the expectation that visitors can stimulate more imagination in this environment and discover new positions and relationships.

Artist Li Jiwei

Chairs have served as the carrier of Li Jiwei's long-term exploration—from production thirty years ago and design twenty years ago to the current installation—all of which reflects his thinking on forms and media. Li Jiwei has intended to find a spatial attribute of "between presence and absence" for art in "Position", and he frankly stated that art does not require excessive interpretation as contemporary art is a life attitude and it should leave room for audiences to interpret freely rather than convey a certain absolute answer.

Li Jiwei, Position, 2023-2025. Acrylic, 63 x 87 x 125cm.

Li Jiwei, Concept Chair, 2006-2007. Acrylic, 88 x 87 x 95cm.

Li Jiwei, Concept Chair, 2006-2007. Acrylic, 88 x 87 x 95cm.

Li Jiwei, Concept Table, 2006-2007. Acrylic, 298 x 100 x 102cm.

 Li Jiwei, Concept Table, 2006-2007. Acrylic, 120 x 120 x 120cm.

About the Artist

Li Jiwei

1980-1984    Central Academy of Fine Arts, Beijing, Studies of Traditional Chinese  Painting, Bachelor of Literature  

1984-1988   Film Academy Beijing, Teacher, Department of Fine Arts   

1990-1993   Academy of Fine Arts, Vienna, Studies of Abstract Painting, Master  student of Prof. Markus Prachensky,  Award for Excellent Studies,  Award “Goldener Fügerpreis”,  Master Degree  

1994             Membership "Society of Professional Artists of Austria" 

1999-2001   University of the Arts, Berlin, Multimedia Studies   

Since 1996  Lives and works in Beijing and Berlin

Exhibition and Installations include: Solo Exhibition "Abstract Paintings", Galerie am Lindenplatz, Schaan, Liechtenstein; Solo Exhibition "Don' t Copy", Painting and Installation, Museum of Ethnology, Vienna; Solo Exhibition "CUT", Video and Installation, China Art Archives & Warehouse, Beijing and Berlin; Group Exhibition "Artists Living in MEZ", 2yk Galerie, Berlin; Installation "Artwalk", Water Cube, Olympic Games 2008, Beijing; Installation "inForm", German Embassy, Beijing Frankfurt Book Fair 2009: China Guest of Honor  Artistic Design of China Guest of Honor Exhibition Hall, Architectural Installation "Book Mountain" First Prize for Outstanding Creativity; Group Exhibition "Sit in China", Museum of Applied Arts, Frankfurt; Installation "Cloud-inForm", 798 Art District, Beijing; Group Exhibition "Black and White", Gallery Black, Greifswald Floating Art Installation "Saluzi", Singapore, Germany, France; Group Exhibition "On Sharks & Humanity", National Museum of China Group Exhibition "On Sharks & Humanity", Parkview Museum, Singapore; Group Exhibition "On Sharks & Humanity", National Maritime Museum, Australia Solo Exhibition "Mozart-Gene" CAFA Art Museum Beijing; Group Exhibition "Ausblick-Die Landschaft auf der Brücke: Werke chinesischer Künstlerin Deutschland", The National  Grand Theater, Beijing, TAG Art Museum, Qingdao, Changzhou Art Museum; Solo Exhibition "Detour" Parkview Green, Beijing.

About the Exhibition

POSITION

Exhibition Dates: December 6, 2025 - February 2026

Exhibition Venue: 1st Floor Exhibition Hall, CAFA Art Museum

Organizer: Art Museum of the Central Academy of Fine Arts (CAFA)

Exhibition Planning: Jin Jun, Han Wenchao, Gao Gao

Curator: Hai Jun

Exhibition Execution: Jing Peng, Zhang Ying, Feng Qinan

Media Promotion: He Yisha, Wu Jing, He Yifei, Du Yinzhu, Ding Yi

Production: Sumei

Courtesy of the Artist and CAFA Art Museum, edited by CAFA ART INFO. 

Article Source：https://www.cafa.com.cn/en/news/details/8332876