ZADIE XA

Based in London since studying at the Royal College of Art, Xa investigates the issues of belonging and identity through an idiosyncratic lens, drawing influence from both the fantasy and the lived experience within the Korean diaspora. Her engagement with these issues of place and belonging become entirely relevant to current issues, where questions of self-identity within society are continually examined across all forms of media.

Her interest in Korean histories is rooted in her own experience of the diaspora, with a particular focus on Korean Shamanism. For centuries Shamanism has been sidelined to the fringes of society by Korea’s occupying powers and the growth of Christianity, but has seen a resurgence in recent decades. Because Shamans are almost entirely women, their role disrupts the highly patriarchal Korean culture, growing in relevance today where wider representation is increasingly demanded.

Xa was born in Vancouver, Canada in 1983. She has an MA in Painting at the Royal College of Art and a BFA from the Emily Carr Institute of Art and Design.