BIO
FAVOURITE ARTISTS & INSPIRATION: Corot, Pissaro, Frida Kahlo, Henry Dagar, Alfred Kubin and Mark Ryden. Xue often uses her dolls and various toys when planning out and making preliminary sketches of her work, and keeps a collection of - what some might say are - bizarre reference objects including: A stuffed cobra, a fox skull (found - no foxes Born in Northern China, 1980 - ‘The year of the mischievous Monkey’ As the Chinese population is Government controlled, with each family only being allowed one child, Xue created a world for herself as a small girl with the dolls and toys she had, in lieu of the siblings she would never have.These childhood friends and allies feature heavily in her work to this day. Xue’s original desire to be a seamstress began when she started making clothes for her dolls, although she latterly followed her heart into Art as opposed to Fashion.The dolls have since become an integral part of her work which, when entwined with her thoughts and influences, create her captivating yet somewhat unsettling imagery. Xue’s artistic background was originally in fashion. After a BA degree in Fashion in China, she came to London in 2002 and finished her MA in the same field at Westminster University. Painting and drawing, playing around with ideas, juxtaposing images and allowing her imagination free rein have all helped guide her development.The self-reflective intimacy of art,
which has always been latent within her, forced a transition from fashion to painting. “I see art as a more direct way to express my creative ideas.” This collection is inspired by silver screen Hollywood iconography. It continues a long-held fascination with vintage memorabilia and the shadowy world of the childhood unconscious. Some of the images utilise a monochrome palette to impart a ‘period feel’ to the theme.The cinematic elements here are tinged with darkness in dramatic Hitchcockian studio lighting that accentuates each figure in this collection. Xue’s creative impulse is driven by a fascination with childhood paraphernalia: dolls, toys, fairy tales, stage sets, fun fairs, found objects mixed with whimsy.These personal recollections are complimented by the cultural heritage of Victoriana, vintage fashion, film noir and iconic pin-up imagery. “We cannot escape the past and our sweet yesterdays, whether imagined or real, are my repository.”
were harmed intentionally!), a box of dead bumblebees, a ball of dog fur (her own dog!). Depending on its size, each painting takes between 80-120 hours to complete. Xue uses multiple layers of glazes when producing her paintings.
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