Bio

Xi Nan was born and raised in Jilin, China. She was selected nationally from China Disabled Person Federation to study abroad at RCN United World College in Norway and earned her International Baccalaureate degree in 2007. In 2011, she received her BA in studio art at Luther College, Decorah, IA. Xi Nan won the United States national second award of juried exhibition of emerging artists with disabilities in 2011. She completed her MFA in ceramics at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth in 2015. Xi’s work has exhibited nationally (USA) including juried shows in Boston, Massachusetts; Chicago, Illinois; Cincinnati, Ohio, Washington, DC, Long Island City, NY and Berkeley & San Francisco CA . Xi Nan was invited for exhibiting at the National Council on Education for the Ceramic Arts (NCECA) in Pittsburgh, PA 2018. Xi Nan was granted for O1/artist visa (artist with extraordinary ability) by United States Citizenship and Immigration Services since 2018. Most recently, Xi has been invited to present her art in the Personal Structures. exhibition of the Venice 2022 Art Biennial by the European Cultural Center - Italy. She is currently a full time artist based in Long Island City, NY in the United States. 

Artist Statement: 

In my view, we are the architects of our own psychological spaces. We design the spaces subconsciously, and we are also the residents in our spaces as well as in reality. Sometimes, we get trapped in our own mental space, and look for the exit sign to lead the way out to a haven. In my interdisciplinary work, I invite the viewers to sense and feel the fragility and vulnerability from my own experience, as well as to reflect upon their own inner struggles. At the same time, I see my work as a journey of introspection and healing.  

As a maker, I create small-scaled sculptural objects with clay and mechanical apparatus —these are metaphorical devices for me, providing form and access to reflect my inner world. I invite viewers to interact with my work through a subtle and multi sensory experience— breath, vibration from heart beats, pulse and belief. I created this series as a multi-dimensional work by doing performance with, imagery documenting with, as well as living with in my daily life. 

My intention is to address the significance of mental health for everyone, and bring in more understanding, acceptance, love and support in our society. To creating a multi-sensory platform for people to share their inner struggles without fear, shame and guilt. To allow ourselves to say "it is okay to be not okay"; to allow ourselves to ask for help; to accept ourselves as who we are; to say goodbye to the past and trust the present. 

Current & Upcoming exhibitions:

Personal Structures, Venice 2022 Art Biennial, by European Cultural Center - Italy, 4/23 - 11/27 2022

Look at Me Hungry
curated by Mel Prest at Berkeley Art Center, CA

April 13–May 25, 2019
Opening Reception: Saturday, April 13, 6pm–8pm

Featuring Kim Bennett, Arthur Huang, Xi Nan, Joyce Nojima, Sandra Ono and James Sansing

The works in this exhibition evolve from an obsessiveness and immersion in the process of making — something like hunger — while evoking the tension between being fully realized abstract “things” and pieces disintegrating into their many components. Crossing boundaries between painting, sculpture and installation, the artists in the show lay bare their creative processes through works that embody time and the presence of their hand.

Publications:

No Name Collective Gallery Selected Artists for 2018 December issue: https://www.nonamecollectivegallery.co.uk/nonamecollectivemagazinelondon017

Interview with The Four Wood online magazine: https://thefourwood.com/art-hoc-xi-nan-slip-floating/

US National Juried Exhibition for Emerging Artist with Disabilities at Smithsonian Museum, Washington DC. https://www.si.edu/Exhibitions/Momentum-A-National-Juried-Exhibition-for-Emerging-Artists-with-Disabilities-Ages-16-25-4733

The Kennedy Center: http://www.kennedy-center.org/Artist/A79164

Contact Me:

nanxi.art@gmail.com

Please email me for current CV