雨天时，茶水滴入杯中的声音，像极了屋外的梅雨声。一瞬一念间，此般天籁是如此别致，我步入了世界的一隅——一个心念俱灭的境界。

——2022于山城

李肖智健的长期艺术创作聚焦于禅宗精神于布面介质的阐释与表达。出身于油画学院体制的李氏沉醉于中国传统山水画语言与思想精神渊远流长的视觉系统，自然地走向了抽象绘画与精神性融合的探索之路。

不同材料、媒介的特性与艺术语言的生成息息相关——油画颜料在画布上舞动产生的笔触感与传统水墨画讲究的笔墨变化与画面韵律给予观者截然不同的美学体验。为全力挖掘布面介质的潜质，李氏以一种“类行动绘画”的微妙变化和细腻表达为基础，将创作过程与画面呈现视为个人修身的视觉化表达，力图建立一套半抽象艺术范式，与文人绘画的精神-意象传统遥相呼应。如2022年的“寰宇无垠”系列，艺术家从二十世纪以来人类宇宙探索的光辉历史与中国传统天人合一的宇宙观出发，描绘关于永恒与秩序的心灵图像。

李肖智健对精神性的追求始终如一、贯穿于多年的创作历程中。各系列作品的面目千姿百态——譬如“吉光片羽”中明快通透的琉璃质感以及“急就章”的波澜壮阔之势，则是他心境与思想变化的真切写照。精神性绘画正如传统文人画一般，其语言的蜕变与艺术家自身禀赋、知识、阅历息息相关。从最初“影山”的云淡风轻，至今日“晓山烟谷”的苦心孤诣，观众在李氏的画笔下，与他共同走进一位游走于传统与当代间“士人”的成长历程。

On rainy days, the sound of tea dripping into the cup is just like that of plum rain outside. In the blink of an eye, this ethereal melody is so unique, I (thus) set foot in an unexplored region - a spiritual realm where all thoughts and emotions are eliminated.

                                      2022, In the City of Mountain (Chungking)

Born in 1997, in Wuhan, China, Xiaozhijian Li's long-term artistic practice focuses on the interpretation-expression of Buddhism (especially Zen) on canvas. Trained in the academy system of oil painting, Li is fascinated by the artistic language of traditional Chinese landscape painting and its long-established visual expressions, and more importantly, the profound Chinese philosophy embedded. Naturally, he is dedicated to exploring the fusion of abstract painting and Chinese spirituality.

The characteristics of different materials and media are highly relevant to the formation of artistic language - the textuality produced by brushstrokes wielding on the canvas (oil painting) and sophisticated brushwork and ink synchronizing the overarching composition (traditional Chinese ink painting) offer audiences distinct aesthetic experiences. In order to realize the full potential of oil painting, Li focuses on melodic changes and subtle expressions in an action-painting-like manner. He regards creative process and abstract techniques as a visual materialization of personal self-cultivation, striving to establish a paradigm of semi-abstract art that echoes the spirit-imagery tradition of literati painting. For example, in Li’s 2022 series ‘Boundless Universe’, the artist is inspired by the glorious history of human exploration of the universe since the 20th century and the traditional Chinese philosophy that believes in harmony between man and nature (universe as whole), depicting spiritual images of eternity and order.

Li Xiaozhijian's pursuit of spirituality has been consistent throughout his years of artistic practice. Different series of works illustrates an astonishing variety, such as the bright and transparent glass-like texture in ‘Illuminating Light’ and the irresistible momentum in ‘Hasty Chapters.’ All are accurate reflections of his changes in thoughts and state of mind. Similar to traditional Chinese literati painting, the transformation of artistic language in oil painting of spirituality is closely related to the artist's own talent, savvy, knowledge, and experience. From the calmness and breeziness in the series ‘Shadow Mountain’, to the painstaking exploration of the inner world in the series ‘Valley at Dawn’, audiences indulge in Li’s sophisticated brushstrokes and step into a mystical realm together with the artist – a spiritual journey of a devout Zen practitioner who wanders between tradition and contemporary.