SU XIAOBAI

The artist has no intention of elucidating the exhibition title. The Chinese term 幽幽 (yōu yōu) describes a state of deepness and profundity, or a state of ease or silence. For Su, however, it is merely a phrase that has captured how he felt after reading and writing. It came from a notebook he carries around in his pocket, where he jots down snippets and excerpts, or thoughts that remain unsaid. Aside from painting, the artist delights in writing, too. The act of painting exhilarates him, while writing allows him to inscribe onto the pages musings that were never complete.

Text, for him, exists not to proclaim meaning; it simply takes shape in his mind. Just like the works on view in this solo exhibition, they encapsulate lived moments, but resonate beyond a mere record of his life. They chronicle the interaction between time, materiality, and the artist, connoting moments of immersion and subsequent surrender. They attest to his tenacity, as a poignant rendition of lacquer, tile, and hometown.