Xuanming Xie (b. 2001, China)
Figurative painting is at the centre of what Xuanming does. Starting from his personal experiences, his paintings transform memories of life and travel in the North into scenes that exist between reality and imagination, exploring complex themes of spiritual belonging, identity, and memory.
Growing up in Northern China has given him a sharp and profound sensitivity to the natural environment. He often seeks himself during his travels, which is both his way of life and the foundation of his artistic creation. He is not looking for unprecedented scenery. On the contrary, he is seeking a delicate fusion between familiar traditional images and unfamiliar scenes from other places, forming a romantic fantasy that blends the familiar and the strange.
In his painterly language, he continually investigates the materiality of paint, employing techniques such as scratching, washing, and layering to create rich surface textures where colour and texture merge.While rooted in the tradition of figurative painting, his practice continually pushes its boundaries, creating visual experiences that merge personal memories with universal emotions.