MA Illustration

Qi Li (Ricky)

Pink, black and white illustration of young woman in street looking at couple holding hands

School Path. It’s a shortcut from the back of the community, and it’s the path she has walked thousands of times. She always needed her music on while on this.

Hi! I’m a Chinese female artist with an architecture background, now diving into visual arts. I’m obsessed with grids, spaces, and the magic of narrative. My work explores how these elements—and life itself—shape us. Expect thoughtful stories with a side of structure (literally)!


METANOIA is a semi-autobiographical graphic novel set in the high-pressure educational environment of Beijing, China, exploring adolescent experiences across junior high and high school. The story is inspired by my own journey, focusing on a sapphic relationship within girls’ friend circles, and delving into the emotional struggles, confusion, and growth faced by the main character under societal expectations.

Through delicate illustrations, I aim to convey the subtle, complex emotions that words cannot fully express, offering a glimpse into the inner world of a teenage girl. I also employ spatial techniques to hint at underlying emotions, hoping to resonate with readers of all ages, providing empathy and inspiration.

Due to time constraints, I have completed only the initial chapters and key pages for this exhibition. The works will be showcased in two formats: fragmented emotional memories in individual books and an incomplete graphic novel with a linear narrative. I plan to continue expanding this project into a more comprehensive book and create a series exploring different characters' perspectives.

Pink, black and white illustration of bedroom from above
Illustration of young woman's face
Pink, black and white illustration of hands holding in clouds above young woman
Pink, black and white illustrations of young woman tying shoelaces, looking at calendar and looking in bathroom mirror
Pink, black and white illustration of young woman walking on path beside building
Black and white illustraiton of young woman reading book while another stands beside her
Several frame illustrations of two young women's faces
"Her Room" is one of the first scenes the reader is going to see in the graphic novel. It tells something about the person who lives here. This is the book cover of the graphic novel METANOIA. You can tell the left part of the face and the right part of the face is different. It uses the gradual change of light and facial expressions to symbolise the change that the protagonist has gone through. "Lure." The protagonist noticed something she had lured unconsciously for a long time. "A Brand New Morning." The first day of a new trimester, and something was going to be different. "School Path." It’s a shortcut from the back of the community, and it’s the path she has walked thousands of times. She always needed her music on while on this. "Breathe!" Just don’t forget to breathe when you talk to her, okay? "The First Conversation after the Awkwardness." Who said all conversations go bad when you are nervous?