Meet Cube Li | Photographer & Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Cube Li and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Cube, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?
My interest in photography started in middle school, but I never wanted to make it my main profession. I have tried different fields in high school. At that time, I mainly studied science, and I found myself interested in biology and physics. In my third year of high school, I began to study media, learning about filmmaking and screenwriting, etc. Then after two years of studying radio and television writing and directing in college, I realized that I didn’t really love this path, so I decided to drop out of school. While thinking about my future career, I realized that photography has never been far away from me in this long study career. Whenever I felt frustrated, I would pick up my camera and take pictures of things around me. I realized that photography was the only interest I had that hadn’t faded away, so I decided to go to the United States to study photography. Later on in my journey of photography studies, I learned more and more about photography. Photography as an artistic medium, also encompasses my love of mechanical theory. I can say that photography is a combination of science and self-creation that fulfills my need for physical math and self-expression. Even now I am proud to say I still have a full passion for photography.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
In my photography, I am most excited about discovering the world through different perspectives through the camera. Under the lens, some daily, ordinary things can become works of art, and I am proud to let more people discover through my works that many things can be seen through different perspectives. There are difficulties in the creation process, but this is also the motivation for me to continue to create. In the process, I need to understand the function of different films and cameras, calculate and arrange the lighting, etc. Every step will affect the final presentation of the work. After the visualization of the work is complete, I still need to spend a lot of time thinking about my concepts and presenting them to the public in a more understandable way, so that the viewers can understand my concepts through my photographs, and I hope to provoke them to think about it from a new perspective.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I’m a student at the Art Institute of Chicago, so I love going to the Art Museum of Chicago to get inspired, AIC is a Chicago landmark, so I highly recommend going to the Art Museum of Chicago as your first stop if you’re in Chicago. Meanwhile Lake Michigan is also a place that many Chicago locals go to. During the summer I also bring my camera to the lake to shoot. Every time I walk around the lake, I feel like I’m disconnected from the city and back to nature. Northerly Island Park is also a great choice.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
There is nothing I am more grateful for in my academic career than my close friends and professors at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. They have given me so much support, both creatively and emotionally, and have always been there for me when I needed help. I am grateful that they have given me different perspectives on my artwork when I am stuck with my projects. This really helped me to refine my work.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/404art_cube/

Image Credits
Cube Li