Artist Li Hei Di documents her first solo show with Pace Gallery, titled "Tongues of Flare," in Hong Kong through a disposable camera photo diary for Artnet News's "Wet Paint in the Wild" column. The 28-year-old London-based artist shares behind-the-scenes moments from her opening at Pace HK, including dinner with friends, visits to Tai Kwun Museum and M+, and an after party at an ice-cream shop where a custom flavor named Plum_Black_Field was created. The show is set to travel to the Pond Society during Shanghai Art Week in the fall.
This article matters because it offers an intimate, insider perspective on the life of a rising young artist navigating a major career milestone—her debut solo exhibition with a blue-chip gallery. By using a disposable camera format, the piece humanizes the often-glamorized art world circuit, revealing the jet lag, nerves, and personal relationships behind a high-profile opening. It also highlights the growing international mobility of emerging artists between London, Hong Kong, and Shanghai, reflecting broader trends in the global contemporary art market.