In the first few of these phases, the
Virgin Series and the
Body Series (sub-series of
Keep in Silence series) demonstrate the gradual maturation of Xiang’s artistic language, as seen in her experimentation of sculpting language, and her exploration of reflective artistic language involving creative use of space and mirrors. Finally, Xiang probes beyond the female subject and transcends the discussion of “gender”, and the concept of body is used as a medium to question the essence of existence, and the relationship between individual and the world at large. In
Will Things Ever Get Better? (2009-2011) phase, Xiang Jing dismantles her subjective viewpoint that she has taken a long time to build, and attempts to metaphorically represent the “predicament” confronted by our humanity by using the
Acrobat Series, and the
Animal Series. That is, human’s social and exterior character (acrobat) vs. natural and internal character (animal). This development is Xiang’s incessant quest on “internality” of human nature.
In her newest phase S, topics brought together include “complex desire”, “human relationships under the power mechanism”, depression, and the reverse angling and reconfiguration of memory, etc. Her artistic language nourished by the influence of literature structure, through self-disfigured representation, Xiang steps from narratives to abstract figuratives that embody metaphors on crisis of humanity due to contemporaneity. Thus, she has made further progress on the narrow path of realist sculpture.
Xiang Jing has held solo exhibitions at numerous institutions and establishments, including The Long Museum (West Bund, Shanghai) (2017), Beijing Minsheng Art Museum (2016), Lehmann Maupin Gallery Hong Kong (2015), Museum of Contemporary Art Taipei (2013), Gao Magee Gallery Madrid (2012), Today Art Museum Beijing (2011), Tang Contemporary Art Beijing, Hong Kong, Bangkok (2008), and the Shanghai Art Museum (2006). Xiang’s works are also exhibited at various museums in the US, the UK, Germany, Japan, Norway, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands, and Austria, etc. Her works are collected by prestigious institutions including Annie Wong Art Foundation Canada, Central Academy of Fine Arts (CAFA) Art Museum, Chazen Museum of Art at Wisconsin Madison, The Long Museum Shanghai, M+ Museum