
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.

(For further inquiries regarding the artist's statement, latest CV, collaborations, and press, please contact the artist directly.)
Education
Exhibition
Award
Residency
Publication
Special
Event
2022
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2022 Rising Star, Saatchi Art, Online Platform, Saatchi Art, 2022
2021
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Shortlisted, New Contemporaries 2021, London, UK
2019
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‘Extraordinary Artworks’ art prize, Rotary Club of Panchiao, Taiwan
2018
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Shortlisted- Seal Carving, National Taiwan University of Arts, Taiwan
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Shortlisted- Ink Painting, National Taiwan University of Arts, Taiwan
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Shortlisted- Calligraphy, National Taiwan University of Arts,Taiwan
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Shortlisted- Ink Painting, National Art Exhibition, Taichung, Taiwan
2017
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First place- Landscape Sketch, Tamkang University Sketch competition, Taiwa
2013
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First place- Printmaking, National Student Art Competition, Tainan
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Artiq- Artist Interview, 2023
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2022 Raising Stars Catalog, Saatchi Art, 2022
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The River, Artist Interview, 2021
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Kingston School of Art MFA Fine Art Degree Show, 2021
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Heterogeneity, 2019
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NTUA teachers and students’ joint exhibition, 2019
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National Taiwan Museum of Fine Arts, 2018
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Kingston University
London, UK
MFA, Fine Art
2019 – 2021
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National Taiwan University of Arts
Banqiao, Taiwan
BFA Chinese painting and Calligraphy Arts
2015 – 2019
2022
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LSE Public Art Programme, Group Exhibition, LSE Marshall Building, London, UK
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Not My Beautiful House, Group Exhibition, London, UK
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Circles in Circle, Group Exhibition, OPEN Ealing, London, UK
2021
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Arts Noelle, Group Exhibition, Gallery Oui, London, UK
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LONDON GRADS NOW 21, Group Exhibition, Saatchi Gallery, London, UK
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10 ARTISTES, Group Exhibition, St Clar, France
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KSA show 2021, Online Showcase, London, UK
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Kingston MFA Fine Art Degree Show, Swan Studio, London, UK
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Distanced Domestic, Group Exhibition, London, UK
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The Visitor, Online Show, London, UK
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Translation, Solo Show, Swan Studio, London, UK
2019
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Heterogeneity, Group Exhibition, National Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hall, Taipei, Taiwan
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Rotary Club of Panchiao Art Exhibition, Group Show, Shi Xi gallery, New Taipei City, Taiwan
2018
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NTUA Teachers And Students’ Joint Exhibition, Group Exhibition, Shi Xi gallery, Banqiao, Taiwan
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Some Flowers, Group Exhibition, Taipei, Taiwan
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National Art Exhibition, Group Exhibition, National Taiwan Museum of Fine Arts, Taiwan
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Dot, Photography Group Show, New Taipei City, Taiwan
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Time, Group Exhibition, Bopiliao Historic Block, New Taipei City, Taiwan
2021
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AMASSA, Blue Shop Cottage, Mauroux, France
2023
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Diageo International Women's Day Lunch Event, Invited Artist, London, UK
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Putney High School, Chinese Calligraphy Workshop Tutor, London, UK
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Macmillan Cancer Support, Chinese Calligraphy Workshop Tutor, London, UK
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Taiwan Tourism Bureau, On-site Calligrapher, Destinations Show, London & Manchester, UK
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Prada, Lunar New Year Event Calligrapher, London & Manchester, UK
2022
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LSE Commission Project, Mural Painting, The Marshall Building, School of Economics and Political Science, London, UK
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Taiwan Tourism Bureau, Workshop Tutor & Calligrapher, Old Spitalfields Market, UK
2021
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Hua Hsia Chinese School, Summer Camp Art & Calligraphy Tutor, London, UK
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Hua Hsia Chinese School, Easter Camp Art Tutor, London, UK
2020
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YongKang Elementary School, Guest Art Lecturer, Tainan, Taiwan