Giving old forms a new life through contemporary art.

NANAMI LI — Reimagining Eastern Traditions Through Nature

NANAMI LI is an independent artist based in Japan and the founder of HULU STUDIO.

As an INTJ woman, she is drawn to the meeting point between intuitive imagination and logical structure. She enjoys discovering hidden connections between philosophy, materials, symbols, and everyday objects, often allowing a single idea to grow into a wider visual world.

Her practice is rooted in a deep connection with nature, shaped by her interest in the Five Elements and Daoist philosophy. She is especially drawn to water — the source of life, and a symbol of softness, movement, adaptability, and quiet strength.

In Daoist thought, “the highest goodness is like water.” This idea continues to influence the way she works: gently, patiently, and in dialogue with the natural character of each material.

Her fine art also explores another ancient idea:

One gives rise to two.
Two gives rise to three.
Three gives rise to all things.

Beginning with simple forms, NANAMI LI develops visual systems that gradually expand into more complex relationships, rhythms, and meanings.

Through painting, natural gourds, old objects, and mixed media, she explores how Eastern philosophy can be translated into a contemporary visual language — and how familiar forms can be given a new life.

In an age increasingly shaped by artificial intelligence, she believes that human creativity and individuality matter more than ever. This belief became one of the reasons she began building HULU STUDIO: to create a world that values original thought, encourages people to trust their own way of seeing, and reminds each person to live with the courage to be themselves.