An Uncanny Landscape: Paintings by Xiao Wang
My latest interview is with painter Xiao Wang, based in Brooklyn, NY. I was drawn to Xiao's work when I discovered his otherworldly paintings on Instagram earlier this year. In this interview, Xiao discusses the prominent role of landscape in his work, as well as the mysterious, uncanny atmosphere he creates within each piece.
Hi Xiao! Tell me about your background and how you initially became involved in the arts.
I have always been making art as far as I can remember. I grew up in China, my family were very supportive of me learning art so I spent a lot of time on it. After high school, I had an opportunity to study in an art school in Scotland, that’s when my path to becoming an artist really began.
Your paintings often depict the human figure immersed in a landscape that appears exotic and other-worldly. Can you talk a bit about the narrative you create within your paintings?
I’ve been interested in landscape as a subject matter in the recent years. It’s an interesting subject because landscape is rarely about landscape itself. Some landscapes are about particular visions of the artists, some are about nationalism, some are about expressions of feelings, and some are about the display of powers. Landscape itself is almost always secondary to men’s ego.
What I’m trying to do in my painting is letting the ego retreat to the secondary place, and let the landscape overtake, or overwhelm the figures.
One element that immediately stood out to me was your color palette; you often use purples, greens, and blues - creating an almost ultraviolet effect within your work. What drew you to this palette, and how do your color choices contribute to each painting?
There have been many trials and errors over the years. I eventually landed on the palette that I often use right now because it speaks to the uncanny atmosphere I like to create. It is tricky because while I love complex colors, I don’t want my paintings to look “flashy”. So I have to suppress the urge to put too many colors into one piece to preserve the subtlety, and subtlety is the key to create uncanny-ness. I want my paintings to be beautiful while not entirely comfortable to enjoy.
Your paintings are incredibly detailed and realistic. What are some of the challenges you face when painting, and how do you overcome those obstacles?
First challenge is the beginning stage. Especially when I start a large piece, it is hard to know where to begin, and completing the first layer is probably the most stressful part of the work. Another challenge is the techniques. I often get bored of painting things that are too simple so a lot of times I end up setting up myself for too much of a challenge. Every time I work on something large I always have to go through a learning curve because when I plan the piece I don’t usually think about whether it’s doable or not.
Can you tell me a bit about your process and technique?
I paint from photographs – so I always start with one or several of them. I have a collection of source materials so it is kind of like going to a library and looking for things you might be interested in. Then I usually play with them (i.e changing colors, collage) in photoshop to get ideas. Some of them become paintings, some don’t. When it comes to the painting part, I usually do at least 3 layers in order to achieve a certain depth in colors. Each layer is pretty thin so they all support each other.
How have your paintings evolved over time?
My technique hasn’t changed that much over time, but I think what really changed is whether I know what I want to paint.
When did you join Instagram and how has it impacted you as an artist?
I started using Instagram in 2014, but I didn’t start considering it as a legit way to present my art until 2 years later. It just started picking up the pace within the last year, before that it was really just kept between me and my friends.
I actually received a lot of exposure through Instagram. Even better, I have been selling art through the platform and picked up other opportunities as well.
Follow Xiao Wang at xiawang_artist
Website: www.xiaowangartist.com