We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Xiaohan Jiang. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Xiaohan below.
Xiaohan, appreciate you joining us today. When did you first know you wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally?
When I was about 19 years old, this idea gradually took shape. In the second year of high school, I decided to study fine art. In the beginning, I painted in the school’s studio, but there were few art students in ordinary high schools. I was like a wanderer without allies. In rebellious and confused times, my mother bought me a book by the German poet Rainer Maria Rilke. His poems were an opportunity for me to escape from real life. The praises and hopes for nature and miracles were a beacon for me when I was lost. When writing a poem, my imagination and memory intertwine as if I have entered a meditative state.
I came to know the performance artist Marina Abramovic around the same time. Her performance art is bold and dangerous, showing the power of life. I appreciate how she transformed the pain and suffering of life into art, making the audience feel the fragility of life and the inevitable memory of death. Then, I decided to go to a studio in Beijing to attend a training camp. There, students spend more than half a year in the studio training in color, drawing, and sketching to prepare for the entrance exam. Through institutional training, my nature for expression was suppressed. In my first year of college, I studied fashion design in Southampton, where I met Professor Fedrick. He encouraged me to explore art practices with various materials and media. I did performance art, taking my clothes off in the mountains in winter, sitting in trees, lying on the grass, and feeling my long-lost tie to nature; I also made collages with several types of cloth, picked branches, garbage, and discs. About that time, my desire to study fine art emerged. I took a year off and transferred to SAIC. In 2019, I finally started to learn about art.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
Hi, I’m Xiaohan Jiang. I’m a painter and poet from China, currently based in Chicago. I am expected to complete my master’s degree at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago in 2025.
Drawing inspiration from memories of the past and visions of imagination, I paint the nostalgic bonds between my homeland’s landscapes and nature; through my personal experiences, I explore the pursuit of faith and self-redemption against the backdrop of East Asian cultural and political contexts. In 2022, I held a solo exhibition in Lebanon. My works have been exhibited and collected across Asia, North America, and Europe. I published a poetry collection titled “The Gift: Selected Poems by Jiang Xiaohan 2004-2015”.
In my paintings, Birds and horses become poetic symbols that invite the viewer into a spiritual realm. Within this world I created, poetry becomes the vessel where imagery and text transmute. Biblical references also play a vital role in this realm, as the narratives of redemption and rebirth mirror my request to navigate conflicting dual identities. My portrayal of this world, filled with poetic symbols and religious stories, becomes the fertile soil on which my growth, loss, and quest for belonging connect.
Have any books or other resources had a big impact on you?
Yes. Immersion in the works of poets like Rilke and Marina Tsvetaeva allows vivid imagery and vibrant landscapes to subtly influence my thoughts. In my work, a single line of poetry can inspire the entire mood of a painting. I might let an evocative phrase guide the color scheme or composition, allowing the poem’s essence to permeate the artwork. It’s not about replicating the textual imagery but capturing its spirit, translating the rhythm and tone into brushstrokes and hues.
Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?
Yes. I strive to create a space for reflection and emotional connection through my paintings and poetry. In my practice, I employ symbols and abstraction to navigate the complexities of these themes. For instance, birds and horses frequently emerge as motifs within my canvases, serving as emblems of liberation and strength amid adversity. Furthermore, my engagement with biblical stories and Rainer Maria Rilke’s poetic insights enrich my artistic vocabulary. These elements combine to form a dialogue with the audience, urging them to confront uncomfortable truths while fostering empathy and shared humanity. In every piece I create, I aim to transcend mere visual aesthetics, crafting artworks that challenge, inspire, and provoke. By marrying the visceral power of visual art with the nuanced depth of poetry, I hope to contribute to a broader discourse on societal issues, encouraging a collective movement toward understanding, justice, and, ultimately, healing.
Contact Info:
- Website: xiaohanjiang.com
- Instagram: ____mooner____
Image Credits
all images credits to Xiaohan Jiang