I was born in a small village in Shaanxi, China. People could use electricity until I was 5 years old. My elementary school was far away from home, so my sisters and I had to leave home to go to school very early in the morning. We always used flashlights to light up the paths. After graduating from college, I started my first studio in Beijing’s Heiqiao Art District. However, the place is located in the intersection between Beijing City and rural areas, with poor facilities. Power outages happened frequently. I Always carried a flashlight. The flashlights were for me lots of.
Nietzsche said: "There are no facts, only interpretation." Today I ask:'' why are people more and more unhappy today, while science and technology are more and more developed?” So I question Scientism. In order to express my idea correctly, I gave up painting, and is seeking a great way to explain thoughts using installation.
On August 28, 2022, "Light Source" Ma Dongli's solo exhibition opened at the Cheng Contemporary Art Center in the 798 Art District. The main medium of the works in this exhibition is the flashlight. In the overall darkened exhibition space, the flashlights of each installation flashed a cold luster in the dark.
I caved carve different types of I in Chinese on the flashlights. I installed lamp inside. Light leaks through the cracks to form symbols and shapes.
