He hopes to promote environmental awareness through his works and inspire other artists or students to see the potential of seemingly useless materials in creating art.

Li's series of animal statues has won praise from viewers and experts.

"This series of artworks depicts the 12 zodiac animals and, despite the common subject, it exhibits extraordinary expressiveness and gives a fresh visual presentation to the traditional theme," Shanxi-based writer Jie Ziping comments.

"The symbolism of the 12 zodiac animals is deeply ingrained in our culture. They represent the passage of time and the cyclical nature of life, while also symbolizing resilience and continuous growth. I eagerly anticipate Li's next series of artworks. I'm sure it will present a fresh and distinctive perspective."

Li is also interested in the traditional furniture-making techniques in Shanxi, which is also a national-level intangible cultural heritage.

He enjoys collecting antique furniture and is captivated by the rough texture of northern China's elm wood.

In a future project, he hopes to blend innovative ideas with traditional home-furnishing techniques to create handmade furniture with wider market appeal.

Contact the writers at xingwen@chinadaily.com.cn