DING YI

This exhibition provides a rare opportunity for local audience to witness large-scale paintings of Ding Yi. Featuring two headliner works made 16 years apart among others, this presentation is a demonstration of both his perseverance to the symbols of crosses that he has come to be known for, and the evolution in his creative process.

Working with crosses since the late 1980s, the visually striking works are made using simple compositions and variations of + and x motifs. Originally inspired by his personal experiences working in a factory and the larger environment at that time, the same motifs have been a constant throughout Ding Yi’s career, yet also changing in various aspects, such as the use of colour, the techniques, and the medium. This corresponds to the changes in his perspectives as he navigated through the rapidly developing Shanghai in the 1990s. His subsequent explorations continued to follow his changing viewpoints as he zooms in and out of the mind, the society, and the world.

Drawing near and looking at the paintings up close, the crosses that form the overarching image are examined individually, each a result of the artist’s perseverance, experiences, reflection, and perception of the world around him. Together as a whole, the imagery tells a narrative of the artist’s practice and philosophy. Only by observing from both near and far, will one be able to experience Ding Yi’s works in their whole and unravel the multidimensional layers condensed in them.