Thursday, January 19, 2023

Ji Xin Reflects Eastern and Western Art Historical Traditions in His Elegantly Languid Portraits

An oil painting of a woman with a mirrored reflection

“Pearls and daffodils” (2022), oil on canvas, 59 x 47 inches. All photos by Nicolas Brasseur, courtesy of the artist and Almine Rech, shared with permission

Through ethereal portraits that vacillate between Eastern and Western traditions, Ji Xin coaxes an ambiance of contemplation and ennui. The Chinese artist blends elements of Song dynasty paintings, like the relaxed, unhurried poses of his feminine figures, with particulars of Renaissance works, producing compositions that place calm women among gilded, elegant interiors.

Rendered in subtle palette of gold and pastel hues, the portraits are delicate and laced with longing and introspection. The subjects all shy away from the viewer, and as shown in “Pearls and daffodils” and “Ripples,” many are in the midst of confronting their emotional states through mirrored reflections of themselves or similar figures. Their elongated limbs stretch across their torsos or hang from their bodies, conveying a sense of stillness and repose.

The paintings shown here are on view through February 4 at Almine Rech Paris as part of the artist’s solo show, Moonlight · Butterfly. You can find more from Ji Xin, who currently lives and works between Hangzhou and Shanghai, on Instagram.

 

An oil painting of two women sitting on a chair with flowers

“Moon light” (2022), oil on canvas, 71 x 59 inches

An oil painting of two women and a sunrise

“Sunrise” (2022), oil on canvas, 75 x 59 inches

An oil painting of a woman lying down wiht a mirrored figure below her

“Ripples” (2022), oil on canvas, 59 x 47 inches

An oil painting portrait of a women and fan

“Pistil” (2022), oil on canvas, 16 x 12 inches

An oil painting of a woman seated on a chair

“White swan” (2022), oil on canvas, 59 x 47 inches

An oil painting of a woman lying down

“The dream of the water” (2022), oil on canvas, 59 x 47 inches

Do stories and artists like this matter to you? Become a Colossal Member today and support independent arts publishing for as little as $5 per month. The article Ji Xin Reflects Eastern and Western Art Historical Traditions in His Elegantly Languid Portraits appeared first on Colossal.



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