Flower to Fruit by Felicia Li and Yi Zhao

中文版 - Chinese version      

Artist list

Felicia Li, Yi Zhao

Among the works exhibited, Yi Zhao's 15 pieces from the "0" series were made by repeatedly applying lacquer onto eggshells. Much like Felicia Li's three series of enamel works, they embody a coexistence of fragility and hardness, a tangible expression of the nature of both the materials and the human spirit. Yi Zhao favors the craft of lacquer, while Felicia Li specializes in enamel. Both are traditional techniques for adding color to objects. This, combined with the artists' shared reliance on handcraft, imbues the works with a rich tension of color and a poetry of materials.

From October 12th to 22nd, 2025, the exhibition at YISHU 8 in Beijing will present the creations of these two artists, offering a cross-section of their long-term practice in both life and art.


“At a specific moment of one’s time, a person would create a specific work. At the stages of blossoming and fruit-bearing, Felicia Li and I are like growing on the same tree, having each other in mind yet keeping a distance... Felicia works on filigree, and whether handicraft or curation, she always works wonders quietly, like a slow-blooming flower. In 2022, Felicia and her VONMO team curated a “Purifying the Soul” art jewelry exhibition in the cold and cool Qinghai Lake; I gave her a lacquer-coated egg, and this "0 Collection” is the fruit of three years ago.
Apart from filigree, Felicia also does enamel — immersing silver filaments in high-temperature enamel; “End” is used interchangeably with “ash”; “Ash” is a common state in jewelry processing, and “end” is the necessary path from flower to fruit. In autumn, flowers and fruits are abundant, and you would feel comfortable whether you do anything or not. 30 years ago, I stumbled into the jewelry major in autumn; well, instead of feeling comfortable, I only remember feeling powerless while I was working very hard. Later, I learned to slow down; gradually, learned to speak properly, to work properly, and bit by bit I came to the moment of bearing a small fruit of my own, cuz it was a bit round.
In recent years, Felicia and I would have a get-together from time to time, and it seems that every time we are planning an exhibition, curating an exhibition, launching an exhibition and viewing exhibition. Jewelry is like a thread, taking us through the two ends of tradition and contemporary, and between life and art. Classical jewelry reflects the beauty of life through the beauty of jewelry, and we have to lap it all up whether contemporary jewelry is beautiful or not. When it comes to jewelry art, whether it fulfills or goes contrary to the creator’s wishes, fortunately the creator can always find some peace and satisfaction in the process of “struggle”, empathizing with his/her inner joy and disappointment, and that is enough.
Jewelry is like flowers, it is hardly disliked by anyone. In life, we can easily see flowers in bloom, but it is not easy to notice the process of their blooming. Here, I’d like to thank YISHU 8 for its tranquility and warmth, which have combined to bring “Fruit is Round After Flower Ends” to the public eye.”
/ Yi Zhao October 2025


About the artists: 
Yi Zhao: Professor at the Beijing Institute of Fashion Technology. She graduated from the jewelry design program at BIFT in 2003 and has been teaching there ever since. She began creating contemporary jewelry with lacquer in 2016 and has since held three solo exhibitions.
Felicia Li: Manager of Vonmo studio. A craft-based artist who nurtures contemporary work through traditional techniques.


Opening Reception: 12th October 2025 at 14:00
Exhibition time: From 12 to 22 October 2025 11:00-17:00