Biography
My name is Taikkun Li, and I am proud of the interesting coincidence that my very name points to -- "Tikkun Olam," a Jewish concept defined by acts of kindness performed to help heal the world.
Born into a cultural family, I readily attribute my earliest art education to my father, a renowned connoisseur of Chinese painting. My father opened that first door to the "ancient wisdom."
Among my study of the great masters, Duchamp stands out for the way in which his work has influenced me, freeing me from limitations and boundaries, and teaching
by his example that everything in life can be artistic creation.
I went on to study sculpture at China Central Academy of Fine Arts, Beijing, and won a
full merit scholarship to the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Such graduates of the Art Institute as Jeff Koons, Walt Disney, and Georgia O'Keeffe are known for an interdisciplinary approach shared by many an artist who has sought to break new ground -- including this artist, Taikkun Li.
It was during my studies in Chicago that I was selected by the visionary designer Bruce Mau to work as one of his few apprentices in his "Massive Change Lab."
What Bruce taught me is, "It's not about the world of design, but the design of the world."
Out in the world, my ideas began to find their legs. My Zenergy Project -- the "prayer wheel energy generator" -- was on display at Milan Design Week, and has been covered by important press like Fast Company and Geo Magazine. The concept behind the project: to use positive energy from Tibetan prayers to spin the prayer wheel.
Playing to another strength of mine, I used data visualization to build a winning model for an online roulette game. This resulted in my creation of the well-recognized app called ROOL for MacOS, iOS, and Android.
These days, you can find Taikkun Li living and working in Silicon Valley, pursuing his art, his technology, and his marriage of the two.
Among my many hopes, plans, and dreams -- the currency of the artist -- is my vision that, like Andy Warhol, I can create art daily that is beautiful, that has utility -- and that can and will make you happy.
