Sensation by Jessica (Xiaoduo) Li

Jewelry

Copper, enamel, fine silver, steel wire

4 in. x 4 in. x 3 in.

Artist Statement :
Dreams have always been my primary source of inspiration, especially those involving animals. In these dreams, animals appear not merely as symbols, but as vivid embodiments of our repressed instincts and desires. Influenced by Deleuze's concept of becoming-animal — a philosophical idea that challenges stable notions of identity by emphasizing transformation, fluidity, and connection with non-human life — I see these dream animals as guides that lead us beyond the boundaries of the human.
In waking life, social norms restrain our natural impulses, imposing fixed identities and rigid boundaries. But in dreams, these limitations dissolve. The border between human and animal becomes porous, allowing us to reconnect with a more fluid, instinctive, and transformative state of being. My work seeks to capture this liminal space — where identities blur, where instability becomes freedom, and where multiplicity replaces certainty.
In terms of making, I use holloware techniques to hand-form the shapes of my pieces, then apply enamel painting to create layers of color and texture. Finally, I incorporate materials such as gemstones, felt, or clay as decorative elements, allowing each piece to exist somewhere between the organic and the artificial, the familiar and the strange.

Bio: Inspired by dreams and Deleuze’s concept of “becoming-animal,” Jessica explores the blurred boundaries between humans and animals, capturing liminal states where identity dissolves into freedom and multiplicity. She studied Fine Arts and Jewelry at NSCAD University, where she received the NSCAD Entrance Scholarship and the Nancy Crawford Memorial Scholarship. Her work has been featured in The Earring Show (2024), the Canadian Student Silversmith Exhibition (2025), and the SNAG Metalsmith Student Exhibition (2025). In 2025, she won first place at the La Pai 22nd Annual National Jewellery Student Competition.