Xinyi Cheng’s enegramic paintings depict the subjects of the artist's daily encounters. Her – at first glance – soft and pensive works manifest complexities of intimacy, emotion and desire, capturing and translating the state of being in the world. Through a gentle play of light and colour, the gestures, portraits and landscapes become translucent while remaining vivid in their emotive force. A man sitting on the sofa in his boxes and speaking on the phone, a small dog called Monroe staring at a bone, anonymous hands lighting someone’s cigarette, a couple frozen in embrace, the artist’s visual universe is familiar in its hazy everydayness. Reminiscent of the style and colour palette of such artists as Toulouse-Lautrec, Degas and Picasso, Cheng’s is strikingly unique yet universal. Cheng’s work is an intimate exploration of what it means to be human, together in the world. ...
