This archive catalogues the artist's work through his early explorations (1988-2000) and seven central themes, comprising, in order: Local Pop, Global Pop, Text and Calligraphy, New Landscape, Dialogue between the East and West, Metropolis, and The Dao from Nature. The archival collection currently comprises 1,008 pieces of work.
Local Pop (1992-, 274 pieces)
Rooted in Chinese culture and historical traditions, Xue Song started from the "local" while blending with global trends to reveal how traditional Chinese imagery can be reborn in the process of aesthetic modernization, at the same time integrating into local popular culture.
Global Pop (1995-, 98 pieces)
Pop culture and new consumerism surged globally. Xue Song captured these societal changes by incorporating Pop Art techniques into his works. Symbols of globalization - international brand logos, pop culture, and celebrities - became the core of his work.
Text and Calligraphy (1995-, 89 pieces)
Xue Song is most fascinated by the abstract-ness in text and calligraphy. During this per-iod, his work gradually shifted from distinctly figurative to more abstract in form, while continuing to explore the integration of Chinese and Western cultures.
New Landscape (1997-, 250 pieces)
Turning traditional landscape into a formal framework, Xue Song integrated such diverse elements as Western art history and urban scenery into his collages, revealing the hidden connection between landscape imagery and urbanization. His work pays homage to nature's beauty to compensate for urban alienation, reflecting a search for inner peace and harmony.
Dialogue between the East and West (1998-,88 pieces)
Through collage and montage techniques, Xue Song reinterprets classical works from Chinese and Western art history, exploring the complexities of the spiritual world of contemporary Chinese individuals.
Metropolis (1999-,45 pieces)
In the early 21st century, urban landscapes continued to transform, with construction sites seen everywhere as well as a massive influx of rural migrants into cities. Xue Song used his art to document the impacts of urban development and the complex and nuanced emotions of those swept up in it.
The Dao from Nature (2018-, 113 pieces)
Born and raised in Dangshan, Xue Song was deeply influenced by the philosophy of Laozi and Zhuangzi from an early age. "The Dao from Nature" series marks his return to simplicity after experiencing the hustle and bustle of the metropolis Shanghai. Through abstract expression, it seeks spiritual transcendence by embracing the essence of nature. This series is also an attempt to integrate the three dimensions of nature: the objective nature of the physical world, the nature embedded in cultural contexts, and the digital realm — an all-encompassing parallel nature that has undeniably become an integral part of contemporary existence.
Notably, each series is defined by its conceptual focus. As the artist's primary mode of expression, collage draws upon a wide array of materials. Consequently, the classification is guided by the work's underlying theme rather than its imagery. Moreover, his practice is fundamentally dialogic, generating a rich thematic interplay across different series. For instance, both 'Global Pop' and 'Local Pop' capture the artist's engagement with the impulse of the times. The distinction serves to highlight differing contexts, not to suggest a rigid separation. This logic applies to the 'Feng Zikai' series as well. While the compositions encompass both landscapes and figures, their spiritual essence constitutes a response to the literary ethos and artistic sensibility of Feng Zikai, the renowned Chinese essayist and painter. It is therefore situated within the 'Local Pop' category. Proposed as a guide rather than a set of fixed interpretations, the series invites multiple readings and fosters autonomous perspectives.
