At the 2024 CAA Graduation Exhibition, He Yiyi, a graduate from the School of Intermedia Art(SIMA), presented his work “Light at the Opening”, which won the Gold Award.

The title of the work is inspired by “A Tale of the Fountain of the Peach Blossom Spring”, a classic piece by the ancient Chinese poet Tao Yuanming (AD 365–427). In modern society, we are often overwhelmed by the trivial and the busy, leaving us neither time to gaze at the stars nor to contemplate the vast landscapes. Life pushes us forward like surging waves, drifting aimlessly. In moments like these, one can’t help but ponder: What is the meaning of our pursuits? What lies at the end of that beam of light? From these reflections, He created “Light at the Opening”, which, in form, seeks to convey a cyclical journey. On one hand, it provokes philosophical reflection on the meaning of life, while on the other hand, it redefines viewers’ perception of light and space through the interplay, entanglement, and fusion of light and spatial installations.

“Light at the Opening” is an immersive, large-scale light installation that skillfully integrates elements of light, visual perception, mechanics, and movement into its structure and spatial atmosphere. Formally, the work responds to the concepts and aesthetics of early modernism, leading the audience from mundane daily life into a metaphysical realm of contemplation and experience. Through the motion, interference, fusion, and displacement of light within space, the work depicts a cyclical journey, unfolding scenes where cosmic landscapes merge with microscopic matter. This not only broadens the viewer’s perception of space and time but also profoundly stimulates contemplation on life and existence.

Although we may feel like “lonely beings fallen to Earth, receiving no messages from the stars”, we must not stop pursuing the light. Perhaps, in the end, we will be consumed by darkness, but the brilliance of the stars serves as a testament to our encounters and reunions. As Carl Sagan once said, “We are all made of star stuff”. Through the fusion of visual effects and philosophical exploration, the artwork presents this timeless pursuit of light, evoking deep reflection on the vastness of the universe and the inner journey of the self.

Light at the Opening

Artist: He Yiyi  ( School of Intermedia Art(SIMA))

Instructor: Guan Huaibin