Xiguan Lei

Xiguan Lei [Portrait] Xiguan Lei [b. 1994, China] is a sculptor, painter, and poet based between Chongqing and Dali, China. After studying at Sichuan Fine Arts Institute, Lei developed an artistic approach rooted in his continued experimentation with traditional artistic processes and a philosophical inquiry into the natural world.

Lei’s art is concerned with time, nature, impermanence, and transformation. Inspired by Taoist philosophy, ancient Chinese architecture, and Zen painting traditions, his work reflects the idea that everything evolves, decays, and ultimately recycles. Lei’s practise as a whole explores the interrelationship between Self and Nature, suggesting they are not separate entities but deeply intertwined.
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Xiguan Lei

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A turning point in his practice was the adoption of adobes [handmade blocks of sun-dried earth and straw] as a fundamental artistic medium. His sculptures, often installed outdoors, are designed to disintegrate naturally, becoming part of the environment, thus emphasising process over permanence. He documents his actions meticulously, building an evolving archive akin to traditional Chinese literati documentation practices.

Alongside his sculptural practice, Lei produces an ongoing series of delicate works on handmade Nepalese paper, using Chinese ink or fingertip gestures to render fleeting impressions of natural phenomena. These works, often titled with poetic references function as visual notations within the same philosophical framework as his outdoor installations.

The paper’s textured fragility mirrors the transience of the subjects he depicts, while the gestural restraint and quiet rhythm of his work echo the traditions of Chinese literati painting. Whether tracing the shape of a falling leaf or the contours and scales of fish, Lei’s minimal and elegant mark making offers an intimate counterpoint to his more architectural gestures. Mapping time not through erosion, but through touch.

Unique paintings, ink on handmade Nepalese paper
Prices range from £300—1,500

For a full catalogue of available work
Contact | tom@opendoors.gallery

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