Xueyang Xia (b.1997 in Shanghai) is an artist based in London and Shanghai.
Education:
2020-2023, MA Painting, Royal College of Art
2015-2019, BA Oil Painting, China Academy of Art, China
Exhibition:
'RA Summer Exhibition', Royal Academy of Arts, London, 2022
'Barbican ArtWorks Open', Barbican Arts Group Trust, London, 2022
'Masculinity: Invalid Traits', Gallery 46, London, 2022
Xueyang's practice proposes a contradiction: the artist longs for attention yet he hides behind a painting. In that instance, he is on display, yet not seen; a performance in hide and seek.
This idea led to him creating a series of face paintings, oxymoronic masks, the stunted expression of which represents an arrested development in his social identity.
For him, these works are both internal and external, they are a circular exploration of himself, as well as a peace-offering towards other people. Altogether, the faces tell a story of the human condition: Look at me, but, you know, please don't look at me.
