Xi Li
Xi Li is an artist and designer based in Beijing and London. She graduated with a bachelor's degree in Printmaking from the Sichuan Fine Arts Institute in China and pursued her master's degree in Future Materials at Central Saint Martins in the UK. Xi Li has had a lifelong passion for art and observing life. During her undergraduate studies, she developed an interest in mixed media painting. After completing her bachelor's degree, she continued to create art alongside her professional work, experimenting with various artistic expressions and materials.
I was born in a multi-ethnic region where elephants are deeply embedded in local culture and visual narratives. Through my research, I discovered that the local government spends a substantial amount each year to manage human-elephant conflict, while tourism remains the backbone of the economy. This paradox inspired me to explore how design could intervene in this ecological and cultural tension.
Drawing from my background in printmaking, I developed a series of “postcard jewelry” pieces using processed elephant dung—a symbolic and sustainable material. By integrating traditional Dai papermaking and embroidery techniques, I aimed to merge contemporary jewelry with intangible cultural heritage.
Using surrealism as a design language, I challenge conventional modes of wearing jewelry. These pieces function as both wearable art and cultural souvenirs, inviting interaction and reflection. I want the wearer to engage with the piece: how to detach it from the postcard, how to wear it, and what story it tells.
Through this interaction, I hope to deepen the memory of one’s journey and provoke curiosity about the unique identity of my hometown. Proceeds from the project will support elephant conservation efforts, offering a creative and culturally rooted way to ease ecological and financial pressure on the region.
Project Gallery
