Li Binyuan: Weightlessness
Mercator Höfe
20 November 2026 – 23 January 2027
20 November 2026 – 23 January 2027
Works
State of Beijing
2016
Inkjet print on archival cotton paper
160 × 105 cm
Freedom Farming
2014
Single-channel video of a performance
5’02 min.
Pinepit
2025
Inkjet print on archival cotton paper
90 × 135 cm
Build
2018
Inkjet print on archival cotton paper
100 × 150 cm
Spring Planting
2026
Inkjet print on archival cotton paper
106 × 160 cm
Beyond The Waves (series of 4)
2012
Inkjet print on archival cotton paper
36 × 54 cm
Show more works
Give Back (series of 2)
2023
Inkjet print on archival cotton paper
70 × 105 cm
Face – Imprint (series of 2)
2018
Inkjet print on archival cotton paper
100 × 150 cm
Strong Wind (series of 3)
2024
Inkjet print on archival cotton paper
40 × 60 cm
Temporary Structure
2015
Single-channel video of a performance
4’50 min.
Portrait Stained With Sludge (series of 2)
2018
Inkjet print on archival cotton paper
100 × 150 cm
Breakdown (series of 10)
2019
Inkjet print on archival cotton paper
60 × 60 cm
Resonate
2012
Single-channel video of a performance
2’45 min.
Long Jump
2015
Single-channel video of a performance
6’19 min.
Internal Affairs
2010
Single-channel video of a performance
2’28 min.
BLOCKING
2019–21
Single-channel video of a performance
15’59 min.
Kung Fu
2015
Single-channel video of a performance
5’20 min.
2CM
2017
Single-channel video of a performance
6’01 min.
Testing
2015
Single-channel video of a performance
7’47 min.
The Great Waterfall
2021
Inkjet print on archival cotton paper
160 × 106 cm
Testing
2024
Single-channel video of a performance
3’35 min.
Parallel with the Night
2012
Single-channel video of a performance
2 min.
State of Beijing 2016 Inkjet print on archival cotton paper 160 × 105 cm
Freedom Farming 2014 Single-channel video of a performance 5’02 min.
Pinepit 2025 Inkjet print on archival cotton paper 90 × 135 cm
Build 2018 Inkjet print on archival cotton paper 100 × 150 cm
Spring Planting 2026 Inkjet print on archival cotton paper 106 × 160 cm
Beyond The Waves (series of 4) 2012 Inkjet print on archival cotton paper 36 × 54 cm
Give Back (series of 2) 2023 Inkjet print on archival cotton paper 70 × 105 cm
Face – Imprint (series of 2) 2018 Inkjet print on archival cotton paper 100 × 150 cm
Strong Wind (series of 3) 2024 Inkjet print on archival cotton paper 40 × 60 cm
Temporary Structure 2015 Single-channel video of a performance 4’50 min.
Portrait Stained With Sludge (series of 2) 2018 Inkjet print on archival cotton paper 100 × 150 cm
Breakdown (series of 10) 2019 Inkjet print on archival cotton paper 60 × 60 cm
Resonate 2012 Single-channel video of a performance 2’45 min.
Long Jump 2015 Single-channel video of a performance 6’19 min.
Internal Affairs 2010 Single-channel video of a performance 2’28 min.
BLOCKING 2019–21 Single-channel video of a performance 15’59 min.
Kung Fu 2015 Single-channel video of a performance 5’20 min.
2CM 2017 Single-channel video of a performance 6’01 min.
Testing 2015 Single-channel video of a performance 7’47 min.
The Great Waterfall 2021 Inkjet print on archival cotton paper 160 × 106 cm
Testing 2024 Single-channel video of a performance 3’35 min.
Parallel with the Night 2012 Single-channel video of a performance 2 min.
Text
In Li Binyuan’s work, the body is always situated within a shifting set of relations: it encounters the earth, contends with stone, and enters into both familiar and unfamiliar environments, where mutual perception and transformation unfold between the body and its surroundings. Each action becomes an attempt to relocate and recalibrate the body.
“Weightlessness” here does not mean escaping the gravitational pull of the Earth. Rather, it describes a temporary departure from habitual experiences, established orders, and familiar ways of understanding. When the body moves beyond the support of habit and enters a state where its previous coordinates are unsettled, it begins to perceive the world differently.
Over the course of nearly two decades, Li Binyuan has continually placed his body within reality, treating himself both as a method and as the subject of an ongoing experiment. His actions do not illustrate a preconceived idea; instead, they continuously search for new forms of balance within different situations. Moments that may appear dangerous, absurd, or light are not attempts to test the limits of physical endurance. Rather, between gravity and weightlessness, control and loss of control, reality and imagination, the body repeatedly measures and redefines its distance from the world. Each action becomes a form of calibration.
Each work is a brief state of weightlessness. The body leaves behind its former position as it draws closer to the world. Through these newly formed relationships and experiences, it discovers another way of carrying its own weight.
– Li Binyuan