One Night is a series of installations and photographs exploring the emotional, physical, and social complexities surrounding sex work, addressing themes of labour, stigma, power, and agency. The project was developed at the invitation of curators Carolina Fernández-Castrillo and Vanessa Murrell as part of their research into the sex work industry in Spain. Drawing on interviews and personal stories gathered during their investigation, Li responds to the recurring presence of hotel environments within these narratives. Objects such as bed sheets, slippers, towels, and showers become the material language of the work. Photographs of anonymous models interacting with the installation extend and document the project’s narrative.

Wrinkles in My Sheet presents a vibrant fuchsia sculpture encased within matching bed sheets, symbolising the lasting traces of sexual labour. Unlike the everyday ritual of smoothing creases each morning, the work disrupts order and leaves enduring marks, confronting what may have unfolded overnight. It acts as a tactile metaphor for emotional and physical strain while pointing to the broader lack of support for marginalised communities.

John and I consists of two pairs of hotel slippers positioned face to face. Embroidered in pink, one pair reads “€€ / €€€” to signify financial exchange, while the other reads “yes / or yes,” prompting reflection on consent, negotiation, and satisfaction. By pairing “John” with “I,” the title subtly reclaims agency and challenges conventional client–worker narratives.

In Washed My Dream Away, thick, murky water resembling blood fills a shower and resists drainage, evoking the difficulty of leaving the profession. Sinking golden stars suggest aspirations swallowed by labour, stigma, and survival. Finally, Wiping The Shame Away presents embroidered towels that gesture toward relief, release, and renewal.