Shaoyi Li

The project title reimagines the old saying from the 19th Century story Dick Whittington and His Cat, which suggests that London streets are paved with gold. In contrast, today’s streets in London are scattered with cardboard, a mundane material of disposability but also often, the holding of memories. In the UK alone, around 5.4 million tonnes of paper and cardboard packaging waste are generated each year.

Shaoyi collects discarded cardboard and transforms it into bronze vessels inspired by ancient Chinese Jue and London architecture. These crafted forms explore themes of memory, value, and permanence. By elevating a disposable material through traditional craft, the project invites reflection on what we overlook, discard, or preserve in contemporary urban life.