The Bow series of digital renders marks the first series of Li’s Chairs project, initiating her investigation into bodily discomfort through the modification of furniture. In this series, the backrest of the chair is bent forward to a precise angle, compelling the imagined sitter to curve their spine in response. The altered posture produces both physical strain and psychological unease, transforming a familiar object into a subtle mechanism of control.

The title Bow carries layered meanings. Beyond politeness — particularly in many Asian cultures where bowing signifies respect — it also suggests obedience, hierarchy, and submission. The work specifically references the tradition of kowtow, a deep bow historically performed as a gesture of reverence toward authority. Through this association, the chair becomes an instrument that choreographs the body into compliance.

By prescribing a fixed posture, the series explores how design can discipline movement and behaviour. What appears to be a simple ergonomic adjustment reveals the invisible structures that shape how we sit, act, and conform. The work extends beyond bodily discomfort to examine broader questions of power, authority, and social conditioning, inviting viewers to reflect on how external systems influence physical form and individual agency.