Yinglong Li

Enameller

©Roujing Jiang

©Yuqiang Li

The master enamel artist and researcher

Yinglong is a plique-à-jour enamel art craftsman and international researcher
He has created innovative patented plique-à-jour enamel techniques
His practice is a medium to promote cultural exchange and inspire creative thinking in humanity

Yinglong Li is both a practitioner and researcher of plique-à-jour enamel art, an ancient and rare traditional craft. His choice of craft was a natural process influenced by his childhood environment growing up in China, his academic experiences studying in China and the UK, and his role as a craft researcher. Learning from various enamel masters from around the world, Yinglong views enamelling as a medium for global technological and cultural exchange and has integrated his own culture into his creations. He is committed to innovative research and sustainable development in traditional crafts and seeks to pass down the production knowledge behind enamel work through teaching. He is a lecturer at the Guangzhou Academy of Fine Arts, and his works are in the permanent collections of the Victoria and Albert Museum and the Oriental Museum of Durham University.

Interview

©Roujing Jiang

©Roujing Jiang

What influenced your interest in enamelling?: My hometown, Guangzhou, has a long history of rich traditional craft resources. I studied at Tsinghua University in Beijing where I learned metalwork. I then pursued a doctoral degree in the UK, where I delved deep into the enamel craft of plique-à-Jour, from which I created the I-PAJ series.
What inspired the I-PAJ series?: The I-PAJ series is inspired by an intangible cultural heritage from my hometown called 'Manchu windows'. They are a blend of Western glass craftsmanship with traditional Chinese garden design. The rich colours and pointillist techniques of Western Impressionist painting are also a starting point for this series of works.
What cultural impact does your craft have?: My craft practice brings contemporary Chinese enamel art to the global stage, enabling more people to understand the traditional craft culture of Guangdong. I create objects that can be understood by both Eastern and Western audiences and promote cultural exchange.
How does research inform your practice?: My academic experience has led me to reflect on my role as a contemporary enamel artist and practitioner of Cantonese enamelling. Through my practice, I am exploring what kind of bridging role I play, and the role Cantonese enamel has in the process of human globalisation.

Yinglong Li is a master artisan: he began his career in 2007 and he started teaching in 2014