MLitt Fine Art Practice School of Fine Art
Wanting Xu


Identity, Spatial Emotion
My creations focus on the fluidity of identity and spatial perception. I try to explore the complex interaction between identity and space by depicting the shaping and changing of individual identity in different spaces. The core theme of the Roundabout series revolves around the living spaces of Shenzhen and Glasgow, which not only represent my personal life experience, but also deeply reflect my identity and emotional reconstruction in a multicultural context.
My approach is inspired by the Spirit of Place theory and the Psychology of Identity, in addition to Bruno Latour’s theory of material dynamics and actors, which I incorporate into my work to explore how space and objects play a role in the construction of identity. In the works, space is not only the background, but also the carrier of emotions and memories, and its interaction with objects jointly drives the changes and instability of identity. Through the medium of oil painting and printmaking, I present the influence of these spaces on my inner world and emotional responses.
I believe that identity is not a solidified existence, but an ever-changing process in the interaction of multiple cultures, histories and environments. My works are not only depictions of spaces, but also visual records of identity in the midst of mobility and uncertainty. Through these works, I hope to make the audience think about how identity is constantly changing and reconstructing through cultural collisions and spatial experiences.