From a young age, Lexington High School senior Elaina Li has been expressing herself through a multitude of mediums, ranging from 2D to wearable art. Li has found that disengaging from traditional art education and style, enables her to develop her own interpretations about art and personalize her pieces.
“I’m trying to slowly gravitate towards something very personal and unique,” Li said. “But I’m still in that process of trying to detach from a lot of the ways of what art should be that I was taught at a very young age learning the traditional methods.”
Outside of school, Li engages with art on her own in summer programs across the world, studying in New York and London this past summer. She notably participates in various art competitions, such as the New York Times’ “Coming of Age in 2022” contest and the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards competition, winning multiple awards at the national level throughout high school.
One of her favorite art pieces was inspired by a friend in London. Their creative side drew her in and thus inspired her to create a mini-series that focuses on how people change their bodies to express themselves.
“Art is the most personal thing that someone can make, and it’s very human. And it’s the way to express that you’re an individual person,” Li said.
Li further explained what she believes the purpose of art is and her hopes that more people will be able to enjoy and understand art. Li believes that art does not have to be showcased or labeled as artwork to provoke a response from viewers—regardless of positive or negative.
“I think that art is meant to provoke thinking. You could hate it, but that’s still art as you feel something about it. I just hope when people look at my stuff, that they don’t feel indifference, and whatever opinion it is, they just get some emotion out of it,” Li said.
One of the most important aspects of being an artist to Li was being able to meet with passionate, like-minded artists.
“I love connecting with other creators and other artists. Hearing their stories and their perspectives and mentoring others but also getting mentorship myself,” Li said.
Li’s notion of art pushes the boundaries of traditional beliefs, welcoming all expressions of creativity.
“Art doesn’t have to be about you. You don’t have to make art to express yourself, as a lot of people say. Art can be anything. Everything is art. Every single item is art, and everything and anything you see in the world can be art. Its definition is so broad. You find a lot of beauty in life if you go through it seeing everything as a creation and reflection of our humanity,” Li said.
