Jingyi Wang (Chinese, b. 1989) is a New York-based visual artist who specializes in oil painting. Her artworks focus on the relationship between nature and culture. Observation and perception are the inspiration source of her artistic creation. She associates the fragile with the acute, the serious with the humorous tones, the poignant with the longing. cacti-human beings reflect the biological and psychological aspects of life, approaching the subtle and intimate intersubjectivity of humanity. With these elements and colors, Jingyi Wang would like to extend human bodies to the ground and mother nature, creating space for dialogue and collaboration among humans and nature.

Jingyi Wang's solo exhibition "Time tunnel" is on view from January 11 to February 17, 2024 at VLAB Madrid.

1. How and when did you start painting?

I began painting at the age of ten, initially as a hobby. My professional journey in painting started at fifteen when I was admitted to the Fine Arts School affiliated with the China Central Academy of Fine Arts, the top art high school in China, where I acquired solid painting techniques.

Continuing my studies at the China Central Academy of Fine Arts, I specialized in Oil painting. Later on, I decided to pursue further education and seek new inspiration in New York City. During my time at the New York Academy of Art, I had the opportunity to paint in Claude Monet’s Garden in Giverny, France. This unforgettable experience reignited my passion for Impressionism, which I first encountered at fourteen during the 'Sunshine & Impression' exhibition in Beijing. The exhibition showcased fifty Impressionist paintings from the Orsay Museum in France, captivating me with their rich and bright colors, greatly influencing my future creations.

Since then, I have harbored the dream of becoming a professional painter. Over the past twenty years, my dream has come true.

During my time at the New York Academy of Art, I had the opportunity to paint in Claude Monet’s Garden in Giverny, France. This unforgettable experience reignited my passion for Impressionism

2. Describe your creative process.

My painting medium is oil painting, and my primary technique is direct painting. When necessary, I incorporate a bit of glazing technique. Additionally, I sometimes create textures on the canvas. Before starting the formal painting process, I draw some sketches to establish the composition and tone using watercolor. I prefer to paint directly and quickly, without interruptions. During the process, new ideas may emerge, prompting adjustments and modifications to my work while painting.

3. What are your main influences?

My creative concept comes from surrealism, my method of observation and painting skill is influenced by realism. During my painting time, over half of my time was spent on landscape painting. Observation and perception are the inspiration sources of my artistic creation, which helps me keep improving myself. My inspiration often comes from what I meet and feel in my daily life, such as comedy movies, breaking news, and travel.

My inspiration often comes from what I meet and feel in my daily life, such as comedy movies, breaking news, and travel.

4. Why do you use cacti as the main motif of your paintings?

In this series, I have chosen cacti as the subject for my artworks. My inspiration stems from a line in the film 'Ashes of Time': 'The best way to avoid rejection is to reject others first.' Cacti symbolize my own feelings and attitude towards life; for me, they signify a sense of helplessness and nervous emotions. Now the cactus can represent me. We can all recognize the traits that cacti represent within ourselves: toughened on the outside yet fragile within. The sadly washed-out heart grows against the wind in boundless loneliness.

Cacti symbolize my own feelings and attitude towards life; for me, they signify a sense of helplessness and nervous emotions. Now the cactus can represent me.

5. Why have you centered your exhibition at VLAB Madrid around the theme of the passage of time? Do nostalgia and the fact of having your family far away influence you when creating works

My creations in the last year have been centered around my family and friends. Since I haven't been back to my hometown for 10 years. As I grew older and spent time apart from my family, it made my homesickness strong. Roll the clock back to the 1990’s, Combining memories from my childhood and experiences of growth. Today I am in the future that I fantasized about at the time. In pursuit of my artistic dreams, I have been living independently abroad, akin to a cactus, living a solitary, strong, and independent existence. However, in moments of setback, I often find myself nostalgic for the past, yearning for family and hometown.

Another thing is that I have been a Spanish football fan since I was a teenager. I am very excited to exhibit in Madrid for the first time, and for me it is also the realization of my childhood dream. I hope to bring my childhood and my family to Madrid through my paintings.

I have been a Spanish football fan since I was a teenager. I am very excited to exhibit in Madrid for the first time, and for me it is also the realization of my childhood dream. I hope to bring my childhood and my family to Madrid through my paintings.

6. The characters from the works appear to be in celestial landscapes, with clouds, at sunset, etc. Where are these landscapes?

Landscape is very important in my paintings. I love natural, during my painting time, over half of my time was spent on landscape painting. The landscapes in my paintings are sometimes based on real locations, such as Manhattan skyline, deserts, and my hometown’s clouds. But some are imagined, incorporating metaphors and expressing my current emotions.

7. What are your aspirations for the future?

As for myself, I look forward to creating more resonant works, hoping that my artworks can heal more people. I hope that both my audience and I can see a future filled with hope. As for the world, I wish for peace.