Tech-tonic shifts

The connectedness inherent, though not always apparent, in human society is the theme of Zhang Yibei's romantic bijou sculptures collectively titled, Limpid, Golden, Calling (2025). Bronze saplings bearing leaves, fruits and occasionally snails rise from the floor in one. Not too far away, an army of taps display biomorphic features, bringing to mind stalks weighted down by flowers, which, in this case, have to be imagined.

Li explains that the piece is inspired by some of the vital things shared between neighbors who often remain oblivious to such connections. "While people are connected through the internet, they can also be connected through infrastructure — air vents, water pipes and cables. Zhang breathes life into these connections," says Li.