XIYAO WANG: LIGHTLY FLOATS AND DRIFTS THE BOAT

KÖNIG MEXICO CITY is pleased to present LIGHTLY FLOATS AND DRIFTS THE BOAT, a solo exhibition by Xiyao Wang.

February 4 - March 27, 2025

Inspired by the classical Chinese poem "归去来兮辞" ("Ah, Homeward Bound I Go!"), the artist’s latest body of work reflects her ongoing artistic journey and personal search for self. The exhibition bridges cultural memory, philosophical introspection, and the fleeting nature of time, themes that resonate deeply in both her life and creative practice.

The poem written by the Chinese poet Tao Yuanming (c. 365 - 427) narrates his own story, where he withdraws from civil service to return to his homeland in search of inner peace and truth. Wang draws from its timeless themes of liberation and belonging, weaving them into paintings imbued with movement, serenity, and reflection. The exhibition title borrows from a line in the poem: "舟遥遥以轻飏，风飘飘而吹衣 – Lightly floats and drifts the boat, and gently flows and flaps my gown." This image of lightness and freedom captures the emotional core of her work: the simultaneous weight and weightlessness of existence and the pursuit of harmony in an ever-shifting world.

While rooted in her upbringing near the Yangtze River, Wang’s work transcends the literal to embrace the abstract. Flowing rivers, bamboo forests, and mountain villages transform into abstract motifs that evoke the emotional resonance of home and memory. These forms – often fragmented and layered – blur the lines between representation and abstraction, reflecting the fluidity of time and space. Infused with the philosophy of Daoism, her works become meditative spaces where nature mirrors human emotions and ephemeral moments are suspended in vivid, dynamic compositions.

LIGHTLY FLOATS AND DRIFTS THE BOAT is an invitation to engage with the ephemeral, to reflect on one’s own journey, and to find a sense of home within oneself. As Wang says, "Home is not a place but a state of the soul."