Fellow Focus: Yijin Li

2024-25 Undergraduate Humanities Honors Fellow and Art History and Philosophy & Religion double major Yijin Li recently graduated from Emory University and plans to pursue graduate studies in East Asian and Himalayan art history, religion, and history.

In this conversation with Communications & Outreach Coordinator Karl-Mary Akre, Yijin talks about examining 18th to 19th century Tibetan paintings and his Fox Center mentorship. 

KARL-MARY AKRE: Could you give me a brief introduction of your thesis project?

YIJIN LI: My thesis project examines 18th to 19th century Tibetan paintings, exploring the relationship between the text, the art, and the experience of the viewer engaging with the painting.⁠

How would you say the Fox Center Fellowship has kind of impacted the project?

The Fox Center provides an excellent community of students who are all very enthusiastic about their projects and supportive of each other. The Fox Center also provides mentorship where one student is paired with one graduate student. My mentor is [Two-Year Postdoctoral Fellow] Lora Webb. Although we work in different fields within art history, it’s been super helpful to talk about my project with her and receive support.⁠

What has been your favorite part of the fellowship so far? 

My favorite parts of the fellowship so far have been the humanities activities, like touring the Carlos Museum with [former Fox Fellow] Dr. Haley Jones. I love going to the Carlos, but sometimes there’s not context for every piece of art so those tours are very helpful and exciting. They’re also very fun and relaxing before semester breaks when things feel tense.

This interview has been condensed and edited for clarity.