Xiaozhen is currently an independent painter based in Shantou, China. Born in 1993, he received the SM1 scholarship from Singapore at an early age of 17. Exposure to multi-cultural environments had sub-consciously influenced his body of work years later. He attended Maryland Institute of Art, Baltimore, USA, to further study painting, under mentor/artist Raoul Middleman. In 2017, he was enrolled in a drawing program at Florence Academy of Art.

“Though I am educated in the west, lots of aesthetic languages are rooted in eastern cultures, specifically Chinese cultural heritage. My works are also influenced by Chinese paintings, illustrations and mixed media, etc. While following traditional painting methods, I often manipulate mix media as an adjunct, to enhance pictorial quality and taste, and to explore new interesting possibilities on a canvas.

From theme choosing, to picking suitable materials, I always tried to keep my mind open, letting narratives and emotions run free while audiences engage with imaginations.

A good image is with a thousand words. Viewers may not understand the complexity of thoughts as I created each painting, this is what motivates me to sharpen my languages, to improve. Hopefully there are life coming out from my canvas”