Xie Nanxing
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Biography
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.
Xie Nanxing’s recent solo and group exhibitions include Sigg Prize at M+ Museum, Hong Kong; UCCA Edge, Beijing; Beijing Bienniale; Song Art Museum, Beijing; Württembergischer Kunstverein, Stuttgart; MAK Museum für Angewandte Kunst, Vienna; Ullens Center for Contemporary Art, Beijing; Red Brick Art Museum, Beijing; Museum of Contemporary Art Chengdu; Today Art Museum, Beijing; Shanghai 21st Century Minsheng Art Museum; Centro di Cultura Contemporanea Strozzina (CCCS), Palazzo Strozzi, Florence; Kunsthalle Basel; documenta 12, Kassel; and 48th Biennale di Venezia, Venice.
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.
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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
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Works
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Exhibitions
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External ExhibitionsSigg Prize 2023, M+, Hong Kong, 2023-2024
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Press
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Tricycle: The Buddhist Review: "Portraits of Paradox. Chinese artist Xie Nanxing paints an escape from painting.
Sarah Fleming, 9 August 2025 -
Berliner Zeitung: Diese Ausstellungen sollte man beim 20. Gallery Weekend Berlin nicht verpassen! (Xie Nanxing)
26 April 2024 -
Monopol: "Rundgang zum Gallery Weekend Berlin Wohin in Mitte?" (Xie Nanxing)
Boris Pofalla, Monopol, 24 April 2024 -
Artsy: "8 MUST-SEE SHOWS AT BERLIN GALLERY WEEKEND 2024" (Xie Nanxing)
Nadia Egan, Artsy, 24 April 2024 -
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 -
Artforum: "Critic's Picks: Xie Nanxing" (English translation)
Chen Li, 20 June 2022 -
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 -
Heichi Magazine: "Reappearances of Dada: On Xie Nanxing’s “A Roll of the Dice”
Clement Huang, 10 December 2020 -
Artforum: "Xie Nanxing: Thomas Dane Gallery"
Fiona He, 16 October 2019 -
China.org.cn: "Artist's exhibition offers new take on Western masterpieces" (Xie Nanxing)
20 March 2018 -
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
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Publications
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Xie Nanxing
Works 2009 – 2015, 2015 2015Hardcover, 116 pagesRead more
Publisher: Galerie Urs Meile, Beijing-Lucerne
ISBN: 978-3-906134-32-1
Dimensions: 25 x 20 cm -
Xie Nanxing
THE SECOND ROUND WITH A WHIP, 2012 2012Softcover, 56 pagesRead more
Publisher: Galerie Urs Meile, Beijing-Lucerne
ISBN: 978-3-9523767-9-9
Dimensions: 25 x 21 cm -
Xie Nanxing
STEPFATHER HAS AN IDEA!, 2010 2010Folder with loose images and booklet, 24 pages + 9 loose images pagesRead more
Publisher: Galerie Urs Meile, Beijing-Lucerne
ISBN: 978-3-9523342-8-7
Dimensions: 25 x 21 cm -
Xie Nanxing
Works 1992-2008, 2008 2008Hardcove, 164 pagesRead more
Publisher: D.A.P/Blue Kingfisher
ISBN: 9789881803320 -
Xie Nanxing
Paintings 1992-2004, 2004 2004Hardback, 140 pagesRead more
Publisher: Galerie Urs Meile, Beijing-Lucerne and Timezone 8 Ltd
Dimensions: 23 x 27 cm
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Video
![Spice No.7, a painting shown at Xie Nanxing's ongoing exhibition in Beijing. [Photo provided to China Daily]](https://artlogic-res.cloudinary.com/w_2400,h_2400,c_limit,f_auto,fl_lossy,q_auto/ws-capitainpetzel2/usr/images/press/main_image/items/5e/5e48a14ff47b4d29990e5d83a760f9da/screenshot-2024-03-19-at-17.39.07.png)
