Magician Jin Li is bringing the world of close-up magic to Ottawa audiences with his show InTouch — Immersive Close Up Magic Show premiering on Sept. 19 at the Atelier Studio in Arts Court.
Born in China, trained in the UK, and now based in Ottawa, Li has been performing magic for 16 years. His work blends slight of hand, visual wonder, psychological illusion, and symbolic narrative, often shaped by philosophy, rituals, and personal memory. Li designs every element of the show — including the staging, lighting, and the overall audience experience.
Li spoke with Apt613 about his show and what it takes to create a close-up magic show of this caliber.
Apt613: Could you briefly describe your show and what Ottawa audiences can expect from it?
Jin Li: This is Ottawa’s first immersive close-up magic show — designed not just to amaze, but to invite the audience into a shared, intimate world. We perform for only 24 people each night. The magic happens just inches away, but what stays with you isn’t just the tricks — it’s the feeling of connection, wonder, and sometimes even vulnerability. You won’t be pulled on stage to be embarrassed. Instead, you’ll become part of a layered experience, as if stepping briefly into a world where reality behaves differently.
Jin Li performs a signature close-up routine from InTouch at Magic Castle Hollywood. Photo by Xinyu Wang and Jin Li.
Apt613: This is a show specifically about close-up magic. For folks who don’t know, what are some of the key features of a close-up magic show?
JL: Close-up magic is performed without the barrier of a stage. There’s no curtain, no camera angles, no distance. It happens at arm’s length — or even in your own hands. Because of that, everything must be clean, real, and human. Audiences are not just watching; they’re breathing the same air. And in our show, this closeness becomes the emotional core. You don’t just witness the impossible, you feel part of it.
But a close-up magic show isn’t just a few tricks done up close. It requires structure, rhythm, and emotional design — guiding the audience through a journey, not just a sequence. Lighting, music, and sensory details all help turn the show into a full theatrical experience.
Apt613: This show is described as “ritual-inspired”. What does this mean, and what has the process been like developing this show?
JL: I’ve always believed magic should be more than puzzles. It can feel surprising, ritualistic, even meaningful. When I say “ritual-inspired,” I don’t mean copying ancient rituals, but borrowing their emotional architecture — how they lead people through transformation, reflection, and awe. Back in 2018, I created my first close-up magic theatre show — Jin’s Gift — at Blackstone Magic Bar in Shanghai. At the time, I was fully focused on executing the tricks themselves, and you could clearly feel a young performer’s love for the art of magic.
Jin Li performs for a private event of Bvlgari. Photo by Jin Li.
JL: After 2021, I travelled to the UK, the US, and Canada, earned a Master’s degree in Theatre Production, and performed at sanctuaries of magic like The Magic Castle in Hollywood and The Magic Circle in London. Through those years, I experienced more of life — the beautiful and the difficult — and gradually learned how to let those experiences leave a mark on me, then quietly shape the way I perform.
So in InTouch, you’ll still see my love for magic as a magician — but also something else: a human being’s way of sensing the world, through the lens of magic
Apt613: I understand that this show took seven years to develop. What are you most excited to share with Ottawa audiences after taking great care to produce something like this?
JL: I’m excited to offer something rare: a show where every single audience member matters. In an age of distraction and spectacle, I wanted to create a space for attention — where even a small miracle can feel personal.
In addition to performing around the world, I’ve already performed this kind of show many times in private and commercial settings here in Ottawa — and the response has been overwhelming. Many people told me they had never seen magic like this before, or felt so immersed and emotionally engaged. That’s why I’m so excited to bring this experience to a wider audience — to give more people here a chance to feel something unforgettable.
Jin Li performs for a private dinner of Bvlgari. Photo by Harry.
Apt613: Anything else you’d like to add?
JL: A few people here in Ottawa have asked me — sometimes even before seeing the show — things like: “Are you going to pull a rabbit out of a hat?”, “Is it the kind of magic show with fake snakes popping out of Pringles cans?” So I want to take a moment here, before anyone walks into the show, to answer this for those reading: No, I don’t do that kind of magic.
If you’re just looking for comedy gags or novelty props, I might not be your kind of magician. But if you want to experience something truly amazing, this is the show you don’t want to miss.
Don’t miss InTouch — Immersive Close-Up Magic at Atelier Theatre in Arts Court on Sept. 19. There will also be performances Oct. 17 and 18, Nov. 1, and Dec. 19. Tickets for those events will be released at a later date. Tickets for the September show can be purchased online. For more information about Jin Li, you can visit him on Instagram or on Facebook. This interview has been edited for brevity.
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