Portraits in Solitude is Bernetta Li’s debut solo exhibition. Born and raised in Hong Kong, Bernetta is a self-taught painter based in New York. Her work draws on the tradition of portraiture, where she finds continued inspiration in her experiences of intimacy and introspection. This exhibition explores different perspectives on solitude, tracing its spectrum from loneliness to independence, hope to despair, and longing to self-isolation. Portraits in Solitude invites viewers to seek a deeper understanding of this uniquely personal but always universal human experience.
In Isolation (1), 2023. Oil on canvas. 30” x 40”.
Inspired by the isolation experienced during quarantine, In Isolation (1) was painted during my second bout of Covid back in January 2022. I wanted to capture the physiological tension that arises from the restriction of movement and social interaction. Ironically, this period of intense solitude also became a time of remarkable creative freedom. It was in this isolation that I found the space to deeply experiment with my visual language. Influenced by the subtle, serene and quiet movements in Georgia O’Keeffe’s still lifes which I had seen at the Art Institute of Chicago, I was able to explore new dimensions in my visual language. This exploration laid the foundation for the subsequent works in this series, In Isolation (2) and In Isolation (3).
In Isolation (2), 2023. Oil on canvas. 30” x 40”.
In Isolation (3), 2023. Oil on canvas. 30” x 40”.
Quiet Night Thoughts, 2024. Oil on canvas. 18” x 36”.
This painting draws from the composition of traditional Chinese scroll paintings and is deeply inspired by a famous verse from Li Bai’s poetry that I studied as a child, “I raise my head to see the bright moon, as I lower my head, I think of home.”
舉頭望明月，低頭思故鄉。
In Chinese culture, the full moon symbolizes peace, prosperity and family reunion. It is a powerful emblem of belonging, capable of connecting family members no matter how far apart they are. Having lived outside of Hong Kong for over eight years, the symbolism of the full moon has taken on even greater meaning for me. It serves as a poignant reminder of my roots, evoking memories of family and home. Through this painting, I wanted to not only capture a sense of nostalgia but also reflect the enduring bond that transcends distance, celebrating the universal longing for connection that lies within us all.
Self-Portrait, 2024. Oil on canvas. 30” x 48”.
The self-portrait has always been a challenging format for me. Staring into a mirror with a paintbrush in hand, I’ve often struggled to capture my own likeness. However, as I delved deeper into my interpretation of the self-portrait, I found myself drawn less to physical resemblance and more to expressing a state of mind. In this self-portrait, I wanted to convey the isolating experience of being utterly uninspired—lost in a whirlwind of thoughts, where each idea feels out of reach or incomplete. In these moments, the act of creating feels daunting and solitary, as if disconnected from the world around you. Trapped in my own mind and distant from inspiration, I am left pondering the question, “What on earth should I create now?”
A Gaze of Love, 2024. Oil on canvas. 30” x 48”.
This painting was born from my favorite phrase in a Milan Kundera novel, “the gaze of love is the gaze that isolates…”. While isolation is often seen as an individual experience, this phrase reminded me that it can also exist within relationships, particularly among lovers. The shared experience between two people in love creates a distinct world known only to them—a mutual gaze that isolates them from others and detaches them from their surroundings. Love, in its essence, is about building a deeply personal and exclusive connection with someone else. This connection, while shared, creates a sense of solitude, as the lovers exist in a reality that only they can fully understand. It is perhaps one of the most solitary experiences, paradoxically defined by togetherness yet profoundly separate from the outside world. This painting seeks to capture that intimate isolation, celebrating the quiet, singular bond that love creates.
Anna, 2024. Oil on canvas. 24” x 30”.
When I started conceptualizing this exhibition, I wanted to explore the empowering aspects of isolation—a theme often overlooked in art and media. My friend Anna perfectly embodies the strength of independence that could have only been established through the hardship of solitude. Originally from Armenia and raised in Moscow, Anna has spent over a decade away from home and family, forging her path in the U.S. with unwavering determination. Throughout her journey, Anna has worked tirelessly, and has flourished into a successful professional and mentorship figure, and has established meaningful connections to those around her, all while maintaining a close tie to home. By depicting Anna with a slight tilt of her head, and a soft yet confident smile, I wanted to capture her subtle defiance and fearless independence. This painting is a tribute to the strength that arises from solitude, and to the power of embracing one’s own company.
The Dreamer, 2024. Oil on canvas. 24” x 30”.
For The Dreamer, I sought to capture the isolation felt when one is caught between the solitude of their reality and the aspirations of their dreams. In this state, the dreamer is neither fully anchored in the present nor entirely embraced by their envisioned future. Instead, they exist in a liminal space—stuck between the vibrant world of hope and the stark harshness of reality. The act of dreaming is deeply personal, often unseen by those around us. It involves an inner world where desires, ambitions, and longings are nurtured in solitude. This painting seeks to explore the lonesome dreamer, and remind us that while the journey toward our aspirations can be solitary, it is in this solitude that our deepest dreams take shape.
Valery, 2024. Oil on canvas. 24” x 30”.
My close friend, Vy, is the heart and soul of this painting. Born and raised in Hanoi, Vietnam, Vy is fiercely independent yet deeply vulnerable. She left home at a young age for boarding school in Costa Rica, then moved to the U.S. for college, and recently moved to London for work. Along the way, she adopted the anglicized name Valery, a persona that exudes a flirty confidence and a magnetic charm that draws everyone in. She was Valery, the life of the party, to baristas, bartenders, and strangers. But to those close to her, she remains Vy, a more private, introspective side with tender vulnerability. The duality of Vy and Valery reflects the complex interplay between public persona and inner self, between the bold and the unseen. This painting aims to capture that delicate balance of individuality.
Bedrot, 2024. Oil on canvas. 36” x 48”.
For the largest painting of the exhibition, I wanted to convey the overwhelming emotions of self-isolation and social withdrawal that have become increasingly common in today's digital world. The painting is inspired by the term "bedrot," a “self-care” trend that was made popular on TikTok that involves staying in bed for extended periods of time to recharge. I have engaged in my fair share of bedrotting, only to find myself scrolling through social media for hours in a desperate search for dopamine driven connection, only to retreat further into solitude. I wanted to bring to life the feeling of being paralyzed in a cocoon of disconnection and stagnation, a state I’ve become all too familiar with in today’s social media-obsessed world. We find ourselves trapped in a vicious cycle—burnt out by the relentless pace of modern life, then turning to social media in an attempt to cope, only to find it deepens our exhaustion and isolation.
