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Xie Nanxing

Xie Nanxing

  • Biography
  • Works
  • Gallery Exhibitions
  • External Exhibitions
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  • Biography
    Xie Nanxing
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    Born in 1970 in Chongqing, China

    Lives and works in Beijing and Chengdu, China

     

    Within the Chinese modern art scene, Xie Nanxing has carved out a special place for himself. The artist has explored the infinite possibilities of painting over the course of his decades-long practice. From his photorealist self-portraits and male nudities that he displayed at the 48th Venice Biennale in 1999, just three years after graduating from the Sichuan Fine Arts Institute, to his out-of-focus renderings of nocturnal gardens, which he presented at documenta 12 in Kassel in 2007.

     

    Recent and notable solo and group exhibitions include Sigg Prize at M+, Hong Kong (2023-2024); UCCA Edge, Beijing (2023); Beijing Bienniale (2022); Art Museum of Sichuan Fine Arts Institute, Chongqing (2021); Song Art Museum, Beijing (2020); Hive Center For Contemporary Art, Beijing (2020); Württembergischer Kunstverein, Stuttgart (2019); MAK Museum für Angewandte Kunst, Vienna (2019); Ullens Center for Contemporary Art, Beijing (2018); Red Brick Art Museum, Beijing (2016); Museum of Contemporary Art Chengdu (2016); Today Art Museum, Beijing (2016); Shanghai 21st Century Minsheng Art Museum (2015); OCT Contemporary Art Terminal (OCAT), Shenzhen (2014); Centro di Cultura Contemporanea Strozzina (CCCS), Palazzo Strozzi, Florence (2010); Kunsthalle Basel (2002); documenta 12, Kassel (2007); Kunstverein Harburger Bahnhof (2005); Manchester Art Gallery (2003) and La Biennale di Venezia, 48. Esposizione Internationale d’Arte, Venice (1999).

     

    Nanxing’s work is included in renowned international contemporary art collections, among them M+Museum, Hong Kong; the Rachofsky Collection, Dallas; Start Museum, Shanghai; Sammlung Goetz, Munich and By Art Matters, Hangzhou.

    Download Artist's CV (PDF, opens in a new tab.)
  • Installation view: Xie Nanxing, f o r a d e c a s a, Capitain Petzel, Berlin, 2024
  • Xie Nanxing, f o r a d e c a s a #2, 2020
    Artworks

    Xie Nanxing

    f o r a d e c a s a #2, 2020
    Oil on canvas
    180 x 270 cm
    70.9 x 106.3 inches
  • Xie Nanxing, f o r a d e c a s a #7, 2020
    Artworks

    Xie Nanxing

    f o r a d e c a s a #7, 2020
    Oil on canvas
    160 x 250 cm
    63 x 98.4 inches
  • When I paint something new, the mark that has come from my hand or my mind demands that I study it, that I analyse and try to understand it. Then finally, perhaps, I can make use of it. This process brings me closer to my thoughts and putting all of this into my work helps to create more layers and more possibilities.

     

                                                                                                              – Xie Nanxing

  • Installation view: XIe Nanxing, Adverb High Command, Petzel Gallery, New York, 2022
  • Works
    • Xie Nanxing, f o r a d e c a s a, 2024
      Xie Nanxing
      f o r a d e c a s a, 2024
      Oil on canvas
      Signed and dated recto
      180 x 230 cm
      70.9 x 90.5 inches
    • Xie Nanxing, f o r a d e c a s a #2, 2020
      Xie Nanxing
      f o r a d e c a s a #2, 2020
      Oil on canvas
      Signed and dated recto
      180 x 270 cm
      70.9 x 106.3 inches
    • Xie Nanxing, f o r a d e c a s a #4, 2020
      Xie Nanxing
      f o r a d e c a s a #4, 2020
      Oil on canvas
      Signed and dated recto
      120 x 260 cm
      47.2 x 102.4 inches
    • Xie Nanxing, The Dwarfs’ Refrain #3, 2019
      Xie Nanxing
      The Dwarfs’ Refrain #3, 2019
      Oil on canvas
      250 x 210 cm
      98.4 x 82.6 inches
    • Xie Nanxing, The Dwarfs’ Refrain #7, 2020
      Xie Nanxing
      The Dwarfs’ Refrain #7, 2020
      Oil on canvas
      Signed and dated recto
      150 x 150 cm
      59 x 59 inches
    • Xie Nanxing, Shadows of Painting, No.6, 2021
      Xie Nanxing
      Shadows of Painting, No.6, 2021
      Oil on canvas
      220 x 300 cm
      86.6 x 118.1 inches
    • Xie Nanxing, Untitled, 2022
      Xie Nanxing
      Untitled, 2022
      Oil on canvas
      140 x 100 cm
      55.1 x 39.4 inches
    • Xie Nanxing, Portrait of C, 2023
      Xie Nanxing
      Portrait of C, 2023
      Oil on canvas
      120 x 90 cm
      47.2 x 35.4 inches
    • Xie Nanxing, Portrait of N, 2018
      Xie Nanxing
      Portrait of N, 2018
      Oil on canvas
      220 x 149.9 cm
      86.6 x 59 inches
    • Xie Nanxing, Spice No.1, 2016
      Xie Nanxing
      Spice No.1, 2016
      Oil on canvas
      220 x 299.7 cm
      86.6 x 118 inches
    • Xie Nanxing, Triangle Relations Gradually Changing No.3, 2013
      Xie Nanxing
      Triangle Relations Gradually Changing No.3, 2013
      Oil on canvas
      190 x 190 cm
      74.8 x 74.8 inches
    • Xie Nanxing, Postcard No.9, 2015
      Xie Nanxing
      Postcard No.9, 2015
      Oil on canvas
      220 x 220 cm
      86.6 x 86.6 inches
    • Xie Nanxing, Untitled (No.1), 2014
      Xie Nanxing
      Untitled (No.1), 2014
      Oil on canvas
      220 x 324.9 cm
      86.6 x 127.9 inches
    • Xie Nanxing, The Reality of Simultaneousness, 2010
      Xie Nanxing
      The Reality of Simultaneousness, 2010
      Oil on canvas
      149.9 x 129.8 cm
      59 x 51.1 inches
    • Xie Nanxing, Untitled (No.2), 2009
      Xie Nanxing
      Untitled (No.2), 2009
      Charcoal and oil on canvas
      220 x 324.9 cm
      86.6 x 127.9 inches
    • Xie Nanxing, Untitled (Flame), 2000
      Xie Nanxing
      Untitled (Flame), 2000
      Oil on canvas
      220 x 380 cm
      86.6 x 149.6 inches
    • Xie Nanxing, Untitled (No.4), 1999
      Xie Nanxing
      Untitled (No.4), 1999
      Oil on canvas
      140 x 179.8 cm
      55.1 x 70.8 inches
    • Xie Nanxing, Untitled (Corridor), 1999
      Xie Nanxing
      Untitled (Corridor), 1999
      Oil on canvas
      220 x 380 cm
      86.6 x 149.6 inches
  • Exhibitions
    • Xie Nanxing

      Xie Nanxing

      f o r a d e c a s a 25 April  —  1 June 2024
      Capitain Petzel is pleased to announce f o r a d e c a s a , a solo exhibition of paintings by Xie Nanxing (b. 1970, Chongqing) opening as part of Gallery Weekend Berlin 2024. f o r a d e c a s a is comprised of eight...
      Explore
  • External Exhibitions
    Open a larger version of the following image in a popup: Xie Nanxing Installation View 1
    Open a larger version of the following image in a popup: 06566F3D850789E5E8Cfc9B789Bb77Fe
    Open a larger version of the following image in a popup: 1F1933478Fe9E9991A76C3Fce3Cd77E9
    Open a larger version of the following image in a popup: C9286B69738E5F91C359329F7Eb4Cadf
    Open a larger version of the following image in a popup: 361F8Ae9B00E317Ce0499574F9D1A864
    Open a larger version of the following image in a popup: 11760Aa7F1904Dc75F2B9A7D3B17Be39
    Sigg Prize 2023, M+, Hong Kong, 2023-2024
  • News
    • Xie Nanxing

      Xie Nanxing

      'XIe Nanxing: Eight Dreams', Petzel Gallery, New York
      April 17 – May 23, 2025
      17 April 2025
      “Dreaming has a meaning, like everything else we do.” —Carl Jung, “The Analysis of Dreams” (1) Petzel is pleased to present Eight Dreams, an exhibition...
      Read more
  • Press
    • Installation view: Xie Nanxing, 'f o r a d e c a s a', Capitain Petzel, 2024

      Berliner Zeitung: Diese Ausstellungen sollte man beim 20. Gallery Weekend Berlin nicht verpassen! (Xie Nanxing)

      26 April 2024
    • Installation view: Xie Nanxing, 'f o r a d e c a s a', Capitain Petzel, 2024

      Monopol: "Rundgang zum Gallery Weekend Berlin Wohin in Mitte?" (Xie Nanxing)

      Boris Pofalla, Monopol, 24 April 2024
    • Installation view: Xie Nanxing, 'f o r a d e c a s a', Capitain Petzel, 2024

      Artsy: "8 MUST-SEE SHOWS AT BERLIN GALLERY WEEKEND 2024" (Xie Nanxing)

      Nadia Egan, Artsy, 24 April 2024
    • Xie Nanxing, The First Round with a Whip No.2 (The Wave No.2) (2008). Courtesy of Poly Auction Hong Kong.

      Artnet: "5 Can’t-Miss Works by Leading Contemporary Artists Heading to Poly Auction’s 10th Anniversary Sales This July" (Xie Nanxing)

      22 June 2022
    • Installation view, Xie Nanxing, Adverb High Command, Petzel, 2022

      Artforum: "Critic's Picks: Xie Nanxing" (English translation)

      Chen Li, 20 June 2022
    • Xie Nanxing, Solitary Painting #4, oil on canvas, 2.2 × 3 m

      Frieze: "Painters On the Books Every Artist Must Read" (Xie Nanxing)

      3 November 2021
    • Art Asia Pacific: "Evidence of Painting: Interview with Xie Nanxing"

      Lauren Long, 8 January 2021
    • Xie Nanxing, What to Exhibit No. 1, 2017, oil on canvas, 190 × 300 cm Courtesy of the Artist and Galerie Urs Meile, Beijing-Lucerne

      Heichi Magazine: "Reappearances of Dada: On Xie Nanxing’s “A Roll of the Dice”

      Clement Huang, 10 December 2020
    • Xie Nanxing, Spice No.3, 2016

      Artforum: "Xie Nanxing: Thomas Dane Gallery"

      Fiona He, 16 October 2019
    • Spice No.7, a painting shown at Xie Nanxing's ongoing exhibition in Beijing. [Photo provided to China Daily]

      China.org.cn: "Artist's exhibition offers new take on Western masterpieces" (Xie Nanxing)

      20 March 2018
    • Xie Nanxing, untitled (No. 2), 2009, charcoal and oil on canvas, 220 x 325 cm. Courtesy of the artist and Galerie Urs Meile, Beijing/Lucerne.

      Yishu: Journal of Contemporary Chinese Art: "Spots, Dust, Renderings, Picabia, Case Notes, Flavour, Light, Sound, and More: Xie Nanxing’s Creations“

      Carol Yinghua Lu, 4 July 2016
  • Publications
    • Xie Nanxing

      Xie Nanxing

      Works 2009 – 2015, 2015 2015
      Hardcover, 116 pages
      Publisher: Galerie Urs Meile, Beijing-Lucerne
      ISBN: 978-3-906134-32-1
      Dimensions: 25 x 20 cm
      Read more
    • Xie Nanxing

      Xie Nanxing

      THE SECOND ROUND WITH A WHIP, 2012 2012
      Softcover, 56 pages
      Publisher: Galerie Urs Meile, Beijing-Lucerne
      ISBN: 978-3-9523767-9-9
      Dimensions: 25 x 21 cm
      Read more
    • Xie Nanxing

      Xie Nanxing

      STEPFATHER HAS AN IDEA!, 2010 2010
      Folder with loose images and booklet, 24 pages + 9 loose images pages
      Publisher: Galerie Urs Meile, Beijing-Lucerne
      ISBN: 978-3-9523342-8-7
      Dimensions: 25 x 21 cm
      Read more
    • Xie Nanxing

      Xie Nanxing

      Works 1992-2008, 2008 2008
      Hardcove, 164 pages
      Publisher: D.A.P/Blue Kingfisher
      ISBN: 9789881803320
      Read more
    • Xie Nanxing

      Xie Nanxing

      Paintings 1992-2004, 2004 2004
      Hardback, 140 pages
      Publisher: Galerie Urs Meile, Beijing-Lucerne and Timezone 8 Ltd
      Dimensions: 23 x 27 cm
      Read more
  • Video

    Gavin Delahunty in Conversation with Xie Nanxing from The Warehouse on Vimeo.

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