Qiu Xiaofei - BARE

In Qiu's works, the philosophical ideas of Chinese literati from the Wei and Jin (220-420) dynasties are reimagined as contemporary images: faces with ambivalent smiles, the chaos of inebriated dances and chants, and naked bodies, all set amidst strange flowers and plants in utopian ruins. The influences of traditional Eastern painting and European religious art of the late Middle Ages are also evident in his work. The artist's inspiration further extends from personal recollections of his family to the geopolitical relationship between his hometown of Harbin, in China, and the former Soviet Union. In 'BARE', catalogue of the eponymous exhibition in Brussels (2025), Qiu offers a profound exploration of reality and the human psyche, reflected in the mystical allure of his paintings.