YI LING LAI       賴  倚翎

As an international visual artist, Ling aspires to evoke interdisciplinary and cross-cultural dialogues in her works.

Yi Ling Lai (b.1997) lives and works in London and Taiwan. She completed her Bachelor's degree in Calligraphy Art and Chinese Painting at the National Taiwan University of Art in 2019 and a Postgraduate Degree in MFA Fine Art at Kingston University in 2021.

Drawing on both eastern and western traditions, Ling has developed her artistic practice of Chinese calligraphy, paintings, and drawings. She combines these traditions to explore ideas, systems, and experiences of language and its limits. Her practice tests both the restrictions and possibilities of traditional Chinese calligraphy to explore themes of desire, ambivalence, and obsession; subjects that are typically considered impossible to express in traditional calligraphy.

She explores these subjects using simplified traditional Chinese calligraphy characters and repetitive mark-making techniques. Without excessive sketches or references, the outcomes are authentically pure. However, she still considers semi-cursive script a necessary element to present her style in painting, bringing language to another level through transformation and integration.

The use of line in Ling's works is at once diaristic and abstract, descriptive and opaque, creating unique rhythms across time and space. The relationship between each line presents a dialogue, which gradually becomes visible through impressions of thoughts, interacting through reduction and amplification.

Lately, Yi Ling is dedicated to bridging cultural divides by fostering a greater understanding and appreciation of Chinese calligraphy within the diverse communities of the UK. Her aim is to provide accessibility to people from various backgrounds and interests. She remains committed to collaborating with different groups, sharing this beautiful and traditional art form.

artsist image: Yi Ling Lai, the founder of lingsspace

CV

EDUCATION

  • 2019 - 2021 MFA Fine Arts Kingston School of Arts, Kingston University, London, UK

  • 2015 - 2019 BFA Chinese Painting and Calligraphy Art, National Taiwan University of Arts, Taiwan

SELECTED EXHIBITIONS

  • 2025 Ram Piece Group Exhibition, SKM Tainan, Taiwan

  • 2024 Manchester Art Fair, UK

  • 2024 Journey through Time, Group Exhibition, Whitehall Gardens, UK

  • 2023 SOTA’s Accessible Art Fair, Group Exhibition,The Leb E20, UK

  • 2022 Public Art Programme, Art Exhibition, LSE Marshall Building, UK

  • 2022 Not My Beautiful House, Group Exhibition, Kingston, London, UK

  • 2022 Circles in Circle, Curated Artists Exhibition, OPEN Ealing, UK

  • 2022 Taiwan Tourism Bureau London Office Show, Art Exhibition, London, UK

  • 2021 Arts Noelle, Group Exhibition, Gallery Oui, London, UK

  • 2021 LONDON GRADS NOW. 21, Art Exhibition, Saatchi Gallery, London, UK

  • 2021 10 ARTISTES, Art Exhibition, Croq’la Vie Gallery, Saint-Clar, France

  • 2021 KSA Graduation Show 2021, Online, Group Exhibition, London, UK

  • 2021 MFA Fine Art Degree Show, Group Exhibition, Swan Studio, London, UK

  • 2021 Distanced Domestic, Art Exhibition, London, UK

  • 2021 The Visitor, Online, Group Exhibition, London, UK

  • 2021 Translation, Solo Exhibition, Swan Studio, London, UK

  • 2019 Heterogeneity, Art Exhibition, National Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hall, Taipei, Taiwan

  • 2019 Rotary Club of Panchiao Art Exhibition, Group Exhibition, Shi Xi gallery, Taiwan

  • 2018 NTUA Anniversary Fine Arts Exhibition, Group Exhibition, Shi Xi gallery, Taiwan

  • 2018 Some Flowers, Group Exhibition, Taipei, Taiwan

  • 2018 National Art Exhibition, National Taiwan Museum of Fine Arts, Taiwan

  • 2018 Dot, Group Exhibition, Taiwan

  • 2018 Time. Time, Group Exhibition, Bopiliao Historic Block, Taiwan

GRANTS AND AWARDS

  • 2022 Saatchi Art 2022 Rising Star Award: Yi Ling Lai, US

  • 2021 Blue Shop Gallery Artist Residency Scholarship, London, UK

  • 2021 New Contemporaries 2021, Shortlisted: "Sequela", London, UK

  • 2019 Rotary Club of Panchiao Extraordinary Art Grant, New Taipei City, Taiwan

  • 2018 Anniversary Fine Arts Exhibition Calligraphy Excellence Award: "Love Song", Taiwan

  • 2018 Anniversary Fine Arts Exhibition Ink Painting Shortlisted: "Sumptuous Cuisine",, Taiwan

  • 2018 Anniversary Fine Arts Exhibition Seal Carving Shortlisted: "Travel Map", Taiwan

  • 2018 National Art Exhibition Ink Painting Shortlisted, National Taiwan Museum of Fine Arts, Taiwan

  • 2017 Tamkang University Sketch Competition Landscape Sketch Winner, Taipei, Taiwan

  • 2013 National Student Art Competition Printmaking Winner, Tainan, Taiwan

PRESS AND PUBLICATIONS

SELECTED PUBLIC COMMISSIONS

  • 2024 Top Hat, Sculpture, Whitehall Gardens, London, UK

  • 2023 Shuidiao Getou, Calligraphy, The British Museum, UK

  • 2022 Mindset 04, Mural painting, LSE Marshall Building, London, UK

  • 2020 Untitled, Public Commission, 3muzimmer Interior Design Studio, Taiwan

ARTIST RESIDENCY

  • 2021 AMASSA, Blue Shop Cottage, Mauroux, France