Xixi Qian
Xixi Qian's art reveals a botanical punk world, embodying the rebellious essence of punk culture that defies societal norms and creates a unique spiritual utopia. Plants, central to her work, symbolize diverse social regulations, portraying the intricate dynamics of inclusiveness and opposition in human society.
Her focus on the roots and fungi characteristics explores social dynamics in second-tier Chinese cities. From macro to micro perspectives, she interprets complex relationships among parents, neighbors, and generations, offering a unique scrutiny of contemporary society.
Using etching and aquatint techniques, Xixi depicts the balance of controllability and uncontrollability in printmaking, perceiving it as a relationship between machines and humans.
In her string series, she delves into utopia at a microscopic level, inspired by symbiotic relationships between plants and rhizobia. Creating a plant punk world in her hometown, Wenzhou, her works highlight economic and cultural imbalances from rapid industrial development, advocating for cultural growth alongside economic progress.
Influenced by Deleuze and Guattari's "A Thousand Plateaus," Xixi's research embraces non-linear thinking and social structures. Anthropologist Xiang Biao's insights into city characteristics deepen her anthropological approach. Combining these perspectives, Xixi examines her experiences and societal connections.
