Xi Axing

XI Axing (Chinese: 奚阿兴), or simply Axing, is a Chinese painter born January 28, 1944 in Shanghai, Huangpu district (上海-黄浦).

His active career started in 1978 when art schools and professional organisations were reinstated after the Cultural Revolution. At that time, Axing was an art editor at the Shanghai Children's Publishing House. He quickly became renowned for his engravings and oil paintings. His most famous works include "Serenade" (小夜曲), "Candlelight" (烛光, 2001), "Girl with a bird" (少女与鸟), "Water", "Pounding cloth map" and "Warehouse".

Axing rarely portrays real people, mostly taking his inspiration for the subjects and associated colours, lines and shapes from the Chinese folk art, especially the Wuxi traditional clay figurines. He subtly blends this background with a touch of modernity, a soupçon of mystery and some Italian flair, giving his work a unique styling.

His creations are exhibited in many Chinese art museums such as the China Art Museum and the Liu HaiSu Art Museum, as well as in private collections in Europe and the United States.

He has participated in many national and international art exhibitions:

• 1979 Fifth National Exhibition
• 1980 Fukuoka Asian Art Museum
• 1984 Norwegian International Print Biennial
• 1986 First "Sea Level" Exhibition
• 1989 Norwegian International Print Triennial
• 1990 Bella Italia International Exhibition
• 1990 Reynolda American Modern Art Exhibition
• 1998 Shanghai "One Hundred" Exhibition
• 1998 Shanghai Chinese Painting Academy
• 1999 Ninth National Exhibition of eligible Chinese printmakers Association - awarded the "Lu Xun Printmaking Award"
• 2001 Shanghai Art Exhibition and Awards
• 2001 Jingjiang "Jay" Gallery
• 2003 Third National Oil Painting Exhibition
• 2004 Tenth National Art Exhibition
• 2005 Shanghai Art Exhibition and Awards
• 2006 Shanghai DeKe Erh Art Center