Xia Hang

Xia Hang
Xia Hang 1978

In the age of the internet, where virtual culture has risen, we live in a society characterized by entertainment and playfulness unlike the past. Gaming has become a hallmark of contemporary life. Artist Xia Hang captures the unique language of this generation through his concept of "playful sculpture." By dismantling and reassembling his works, he introduces the relationship of the other into his pieces, erasing the sculpture's original authority and politicization. His intricate and sparkling stainless steel works, through repeated disassembly, connection, and combination, continually evolve and generate, creating a world reminiscent of a magical game. This experience embodies a gathering, storage, instantaneous release, and destruction of "force" or inner power, an organic transformation between the tangible and intangible worlds.

Clearly, Xia Hang's creative concept originates from a narrative method that opposes modernism, rejecting the "sublime" and grand narratives. He aims to imbue sculpture with a "playful" quality to eliminate the dualism between subject and object, encouraging interaction between the artwork and the audience. Furthermore, the components that can be dismantled and reassembled not only subvert established sculpture concepts but also bring new possibilities for its formal expansion.

Art Works