liactuallee (they/them) constructs vibrant, amoebic landscapes through soft sculptures that push conventional boundaries. Their crocheted works pulse with bright colors and organic forms, reminiscent of overlooked ecologies, allowing the viewer to enter their world through their own sensory memories. The artist describes their visual translations as "tendencies to hyper-fixate on things I see in the world—they get stuck in my brain like a 'brain itch'—and through surrealist interpretations, these phenomena become part of my imagined universe."
Instead of trying to fit into pre-existing molds, li crafts their own universe—one that feels more aligned with their need for belonging. Growing up in Poland, liactuallee was steeped in a rich cultural environment filled with theater, art, and many crafts such as knitting and crochet. It was they’re accidental return to fiber as an art-form that opened up infinite possibilities, propelling them deeper into the world of soft sculpture. “I took up the craft as an adult, in order to take a mental break from my practice, but crochet ended up becoming central to my work," they explain. Central to this shift was the art of Amigurumi, a Japanese form of crocheting or knitting stuffed creatures, which allowed the artist to create in multi-dimensional modes. This medium invigorated their adoration for fiber arts, not just as a medium but as a vital mode of sculptural expression, resulting in the exhibition Soft Invasions, Stitchpunk Visions in June 2023.
Outside of their artistic practice, liactuallee has spent over a decade as a movement and yoga instructor. While their art is an exploration of imaginary worlds, yoga grounds them in the physical realm. "It helps me maintain a balance between mental and physical health, keeping me strong and flexible for my art-making process. As a non-binary person and afab (assigned female at birth), my body has always been policed in gendered and racial ways. Practices of reclamation of my body and the spaces I occupy are vital to my survival." liactuallee’s soft sculptures defy the normative ideals imposed on bodies and form. Their organic, irregular shapes symbolize a kind of liberation, offering viewers a colorful, expansive world free from rigid constraints.
Currently, as an artist in residence at Hampi Arts Lab, they are focusing on scaling up their sculptures, as well as working with upcycled and waste textiles, in collaboration with the fashion house Bodice in Delhi. “It’s been incredible working with their waste fabrics—it’s opened up new dimensions in my practice,” they share.
Sa ladakh 2024
liactuallee’s ongoing work explores themes of hyperfixation, sensory experience, and the societal pressures on the human psyche. Their interest in pushing boundaries doesn’t stop at physical form. liactuallee has been writing the Stitchpunk Manifesto, a guiding philosophy centered on the ethics of crafting, survival, and queerness. "It’s about the values I want to uphold in my practice, while collecting examples of how other fiber artists engage in their practices of creation and survival.”
Through their evolving body of work, liactuallee not only frees themselves but also invites others into a vibrant, liberating space—one where art transcends traditional limits and celebrates the boundless potential of human experience.
Words Paridhi Badgotri
Date 08.10.2024