Taikkun Yang Li (1981 born in Guangzhou,China ) is a Vancouver based artist and industrial designer. Taikkun professionally crosses the boundaries between Fine arts, Urban studies, Design, Sculpture, Ceramic, Film, and Photography. His projects are extensively published and exhibited in North America (U.S. and Canada), Europe (France and Italy), and Asia (China and Hong Kong). He attended the Milan Design Week 2009 at Fabbrica del vapore Milan as featuring his Zenergy project–using Tibetan prayer wheels and tourists resources in cooperation to generate electricity in Tibet. He was invited to join the UNESCO Beijing Urban Preservation Project in 2005. He earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Sculpture from the Central Academy of Fine Arts (CAFA). After CAFA, he went on to receive one of the most distinguished full Merit Trustee Scholarships to further his education in the MFA program at the School of Art Institute of Chicago. He was a research specialist in the Renewable Energy Division for the Center for Massive Change and was chosen to work for the GFRY studio subsidized by the Motorola Foundation. After apprenticing under renowned designer Bruce Mau, he currently runs a designer brand, T A I K K U N (TM). For More about Taikkun’s design discipline , please go to this website.
RESUME
Art and Design Professional Experience
2009 – present : Diao Su Magazine – National sculpture magazine of China
Associate Editor
2007-2009 : Center for Massive Change with Bruce Mau,Chicago,USA
Apprentice of Bruce Mau, focusing on sustainable design and research
Teaching Experience
Teaching assistant, School of Art Institute of Chicago
Classes involved:
Digital Modeling and Fabrication in laser technology (Designed objects)
Large Format Photography(Photography)
Dark Room for 4×5 films(Photography)
Fundamental Furniture Design and Making (Designed Objects)
Wood Working (Sculpture)
Ceramic seminar (Ceramic)
Video Installation (Film and Video)
GFRY studio: Aerodynamics in Urban Design (Architecture)
Advanced Ceramics II ( Ceramic)
Lectures at
Grand Valley State University,WI,USA
School of Art Institute of Chicago,IL,USA
University of the District of Columbia,DC,USA
Symposium
Milan design week 2009,Febbrica del Vapore,Milan,Italy
Press Conference at University of the District of Columbia , DC, USA
The Ceramics Forum of Cranbrook Academy of Art/The School of The Art Institute of Chicago/Grand Valley State University, WI, US
Curatorial experience
2010 International Sculpture Exhibition of Outstanding Art College Graduates
Honors
2010 the Epson international photographic pano awards – winner of Bronze Award
2009 Milan Design Week at Fabrica Del Vapore – Zenergy Project
2007-2008 Documentary Lost dream of Beijing were official selection: Rotterdam Architecture Film Festival, San Francisco Tiburon International Film Festival, Washington DC independent Film Festival.
2005 UNESCO (Beijing) subsidized artist
Selected Exhibtion
2010 Quintessence Art Bank, the global creative arts festival
2009 Milan Design Week , Fabbrica Del Vapore, Italy
2009 Making Modern Show, Sullivant Gallery,Chicago,USA
2008 Special Projection at Rotterdam Architecture Film Festival, Netherlands
2008 Solo Exhibition ” Propaganda Relics” , Peopeo Gallery,Beijing,China
2007 Dropped Frame Exhibition, G2 GALLERY,Chicago, USA
2007 Film Lost Dream of Beijing (IMDb) was Official Selection of San Francisco Tiburon International Film Festival,
2007 Washington DC Independent Film Festival
2005 UNESCO Beijing exhibition about historical preservation of downtown Beijing,China
2004 Solo Exhibition,Oriental Gallery of Guangzhou, China
Education
MFA The School of Art Institute of Chicago ,USA
Focus: Sustainable Design, Design in ceramic,
BFA China Central Academy of Fine Arts, Beijing, China
Focus: Sculpture in different material studies, experimental film.
Associate degree, China Academy of Fine Arts,Hang zhou,China
Focus: drawing and oil painting
Publication
Projects were introduced in famous online design magazine Core77,FAST COMPANY,Inhabitat and Polish online science magazine – kopalniawiedzy etc
Works were embodied in the Book:Learning Mind Experience into Art, Mary Jane Jacob and Jacquelynn Baas, University of California Press,
Works were embodied in the Book: Sculpture works of CAFA fine arts school, Jiangsu Fine Arts Publishing House
Works were embodied in UNESCO achieve Beijing and Beijing Project etc
Essay Sustainability design in the age of financial crisis, published in China National Design Magazine<<she ji>> etc
Exclusive interview : Chinese Design Identity (pdf download) by China National Design Magazine<<she ji>>
