Li Rui was born in 1983 and comes from Yunnan’s Hani tribe. His tribal name is Yun Guran. His teacher Mao Xuhui from Yunnan University’s School of Art and Design called him a “pure seed of Yunnan.” Li Rui grew up in a Yunnan farming community and later went to bustling Kunming to pursue his studies, where he experienced the fast-paced rhythm and impact of city life but also felt lost and confused in the false and bewildering milieu. He became tired and weary of the frenzy of the city and longed for the calm simplicity of home. Li Rui recalled the pure land of Yunnan that was deep in his heart and decided to return home and work on his art full time.

Li Rui meanders in the embrace of nature and evokes his childhood dreams; his unsullied viewpoint and the emotions of homecoming are conveyed into his observation and interpretation of nature and carefully inscribed into his works. He is a poetry lover, and this is often directly or indirectly reflected in his artworks. His brushstrokes overflow with poetic passion and depict the quiet beauty where all is content, and poetry and art come together in a blithe, unrestricted and elegant manner. In 2011, Li Rui held his solo exhibition “Water Wind Emptiness” at the Today Art Museum in China and attracted the attention of the art world. He has been invited by MOT/ARTS as part of the Mobile Gallery.