Xinchen Li: The Shape of What Was
September 4, 2026 – September 25, 2026
ARC Gallery, 1463 W. Chicago Ave, Chicago, IL 60642
Opening Reception: Friday, September 4th, 5-8pm The Shape of What Was transforms the gallery into a domestic interior made from life size furniture and household objects built with 3D printing pens and black Polylactic Acid (PLA) filament. Based on objects from places I have lived and left behind, the exhibition explores domestic objects as memory holders and reflects on migration, belonging, and the impermanence of home. For me, the act of remaking is empowering. It allows lost or distant objects to gain a new form and presence. Although the work begins from my personal experience, it invites viewers to reflect on what they have held onto, what they have left behind, and how they define home.