About Qiaodan Xiang
Artist Statement |
I am interested in exploring phenomena and the relationships that exist on a macroscopic as well as microcosmic level. Through practice, I am interested in revealing that which is overlooked. In my works, Macro and micro existences share graphic similarity. The macroscopic world is consist of microcosmic existences, this status can be a infinite circulation. My primary practice is printmaking and painting which is supported by a range of media, including installation, drawing and ceramics. I consider painting to be the most useful means of exploration and expression of my thoughts. For me, each work has the capacity to emit its own unique energy and to communicate the emotive register of the artist. At times this is a gradual process or equally instantaneous, but usually reveals the more subtle thoughts in my mind. The results are artworks that utilize both figurative and abstract languages. I believe that nothing can be anything.
The process of working, allows for a process of revision and alteration. I follow my instinct at the start of a work, which then gives way to a process of allowing the work to tell me what to do from one moment to the next. I consider my practice to be equally improvisational, spiritual and emotional, discovering harmonies within chaos, and creating a floating status. Adopting diverse painting methods and approaches to combine the cosmos images and features in naked-eye or under microscope, the work often results in the overlapping of multiple elements, the composition of symbolic imagery, the use of bright colours and obscure boundaries. The task is to try to gain some understanding of the characters of all the elements, and the interplay between them. For instance, in my painting My Palm (2015), resembling Palm Readers tell life stories according to palm-print, I use my palm representing all the possibilities, the texture of life, time, cosmos. I try to enhance the strength of how palm-print grows and emphasize the fleshly subjectivism with pink paint. Moreover, for printmaking, I prefer Mono-print which has only one original piece like painting. Adopting approach of going back to blank paper, I seize the surprises and reflections happening during the process. I am interested in exploring different characters through printing, especially the natural noises happened in the process, which are like the subtle energy inside images. In general, I do many experiments about colours, textures, images with my sentiments. Furthermore, I acquire inspirations from Surrealism, Neo-expressionism, Wabisabi and Abstract Expressionism. For instance, I am researching on artist Sigmar Polke’s works and his passionate unrestricted experiments in painting. Like Polke, I also believe in the existence of aliens and outer space, which gives me motivation and inspiration to explore the world in my works. Personal experience and expression are very essential for me. My practice does not respond to or rely upon prevalent artistic trends, but rather, a more authentic personal response to the playfulness and the inexpressible potential of art. Predominantly, my practice is an exploration of a personal artistic methodology which can also regarded as process of creating my own contemporary allegory. |