Shi Xiang: June Flower Cotton
Double Solo Exhibition, Boya Hall, Graduate School of the Central Academy of Fine Arts, Beijing
Cotton in June, no special, year after year.
Painting cotton is the same, the subject has no special meaning.
But perhaps it is because it is ordinary, so it is favorite, instead of feeling warm.
The warm white balls are very cute.
It makes no difference what you paint, it’s all about feeling, following the feeling upwards, technique is lagging behind and a secondary issue, but it doesn’t mean it’s not important.
Take your time, follow the feeling, let go of the burden, lighten up, the feeling is the most important, that’s right.
We have to trust ourselves and keep moving forward.
What impresses me about cotton is its ordinariness and simplicity, but from a certain point of view it is extremely special.
I naturally want to paint when I feel something, and when I paint the first one, I’ll change the angle of the second, the third –
Each painting triggers the beginning of the next one, and I am addicted to it.
Although the process of painting is difficult, I like it this way.
Trusting the feeling, trusting myself, trusting the uncertainties, trusting what my body is feeling, and on and on it goes.
Whatever you paint, you are painting yourself, the “thing” you believe in.
Maybe words can’t reach it, but it doesn’t matter, just look at the painting, if there is something, there is something, if there is nothing, there is nothing.
–Shi Xiang, 2023.12
Installation Views
