Biography – Le Xi

Early Inspirations in Youth

Back in my younger days, nature meant a lot to me. I'd often daydream under the open sky, feeling the breeze on my face and watching leaves sway in the wind. Those moments really shaped my later art, sparking a lifelong fascination with the mystery of nature. Born during China's Cultural Revolution, I saw firsthand how modern Chinese history mixed with global changes. That era deeply influenced how I grew up and thought, pushing me to chase my artistic dreams and express myself freely. I wasn't thrilled with a lot of how things were in reality, but I stayed curious about it because I wanted to find new possibilities by abstracting from the everyday. To me, art can build a whole new kind of reality, breaking free from the limits of daily life.

Fascination with the Unknown

I wasn't the best student, but I was hooked on fantasies about aliens, UFOs, and superheroes. I truly believed there were mysterious forces out there beyond our world. That curiosity about the unknown fired up my imagination and opened doors for my art. I love art because it bucks the norms, sparks unconventional ideas, and invites me to try new mediums and styles. In the art world, I feel this deep sense of freedom. I often wonder how to turn those wild, otherworldly ideas into real visual stuff, diving into uncharted territory.

Growing Up in a Transformative Era

Surrounded by nature's wonders and the flow of the era, my childhood was full of reflection. Paying close attention to natural beauty made me think about how people connect with their environment, while big social shifts had me questioning my own identity and place in it all. In China's time of huge transformations, I watched so many social changes unfold, realizing how historical events shape people's lives and values. Those experiences made me ponder what art really means and how it can unlock fresh possibilities. I came to see that art isn't just a way to express myself—it's a door to seeing reality in a different light. This mix of nature and history guides my work, zeroing in on deep questions about existence and pushing for more meaningful expression through exploration.

Journey to New York

In 2002, I moved to New York, this buzzing city full of energy and cultural mix. That's where I really got a feel for the spaces between differences. All the frequent moves made me embrace minimalism, ditching anything I didn't need and keeping just my smartphone. That way of living totally changed my art practice—I shifted from traditional painting to multimedia stuff. I'd use my phone to snap pics and videos of people and moments around me, focusing on how they overlap and connect.

I started "creating in the between, not just depicting." I realized painting alone couldn't capture that vibe, so I turned to video to grab those subtle links. In my piece White House, I look at how objects and their shadows relate, highlighting the natural flow of walking. I've shown in several exhibits, like "Mary's Choice" at 303 Gallery and "On the Cutting Edge of Contemporary Art" at the Brattleboro Museum and Art Center. Those chances stretched my artistic styles and ideas, helping me grab hold of life's messiness and variety. Living in New York didn't just switch up my tools—it reshaped my whole outlook on art.

Academic Pursuit at the School of Visual Arts

In 2010, I got my MFA from the School of Visual Arts in New York, which was a big step in committing to my art career. During that time, I learned to look at the world in fresh ways, especially digging into the dual sides of things and their deeper truths. Chatting and working with artists and thinkers from all sorts of backgrounds widened my view and helped me get the tangled ties between art and society. Blending school research with hands-on creating gave me real insight into art's role and impact in the world, setting a strong base for what comes next.

East–West Intersections and Identity

As an artist always bouncing between Eastern and Western cultures, I live on the move, used to shaking up the usual ways things work. This in-between life really shapes who I am and how I express it, letting me savor those random encounters. Going with the flow is my constant vibe—no strict rules, no plans or goals, just reacting to what's right in front of me. This cross-cultural life deepens my sense of shifting identities and makes me think about where personal stories meet broader social vibes. In that hazy in-between space, I zero in on how everyday things relate and shift, especially those tiny gaps. My big curiosity about how virtual and real worlds blend drives me to rethink what images mean in art, hunting for new angles and ways to say it in these tangled times and places—to rediscover the richness and poetry in life. My art is just an extension of this mindset; for example, my work Rain Drops came straight from a stretch of nonstop rainy season.

Art as Exploration of Reality

In my creative process, I'm always digging into what art really is at its core. I doubt if "truth" even exists in a fixed way, but I do believe everyone has their own unique take on reality. My drive to create comes from inner beliefs and real-life situations, though my pieces don't totally lean on those. For me, art is more than just a way to say something—it's a path to dive into the variety of reality, giving viewers a quick escape and a chance to reflect. This keeps me rethinking my own views and experiences over and over. I truly think art springs from sharp awareness of details, like overlooked feathers or bank slips, treating materials like pieces in a kaleidoscope. In the gap between the grand and the tiny, I seek out new spaces that aren't linear, sparking fresh ways for people to see everyday things.

My aim is to make calm spots where folks can slow down, feel it, and connect. Instead of the hustle of busy markets, I lean toward quiet paths, tuning into subtle shifts in the surroundings and my body's sensations. By reworking images beyond old stories, I highlight still poses and the gentle weave of time and space. Pieces like Cleaning Windows and Smartphones turn simple, repetitive actions into poetic moments we'd normally ignore, inviting viewers to pause, resonate on a gut level, and uncover the delicate weave of how we sense and live things.

My art path is all about uncovering those "in-between" spaces and their magic, weaving that energy into who I am, and guiding others to rediscover the deeper layers of the world.

Reflections and Writings

In my personal notebook, When Art Meets Life: Reflections on My Artistic Journey, I delve into the contemporary art world, offering unique insights into an artist's inner perspective on the global stage. These reflections reveal my thoughts on artistic practice and the subtle connections between art and daily life.

Toward an Ongoing Artistic Journey

My art adventure is a dive into reality and fantasy, being and nothingness. Through art, I've learned to spot the beauty in daily life and see how the "in-between" is everywhere. My works are meditations on connection, linking viewers to those subtle, poetic bits of life. Looking ahead, I'll keep sensing and sharing life through art, exploring the endless options in the "in-between," and drawing people into unique, beautiful ways of existing—growing all along in this never-ending quest.