2014

When I relocated into a Western culture, the geographic migration brought me new insight into the cultural milieu of my native East. My work tells stories, personal experiences, and my renewed connection to my cultural tradition and Eastern origin. The transformations in my own life and in Chinese culture are new inspirations for my creative expression.

The dialogues between past and present, East and West, nature and culture are recurring themes in my work. The boundaries between these themes might be clear or blurred as they appear in the real world. My memories, reflections, and contemplations are interpreted into visual languages of image, layering, light and shadow, and material.

An evolving hybrid-making process, which blends digital and manual skills and integrates traditional techniques with new innovations, comes naturally to my work; it fits into my transcultural perspective and position.

Daily Life is made with patience and carefulness to reach a simple form. Presenting cooking recipe in toilet paper form brings daily routines together. Life has ups and downs, but mostly falls into repetitive commonness. It takes time in one’s life to enjoy the commonplace.

About the Artist

Xia Gao is a visual artist who primarily works with textile/fibre in 2D, 3D and installation. Her works often addresses personal and cultural adaptation and transformation. Gao works as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Art and Art History at Michigan State University, USA. She regularly does guest lectures and presentations at art and design programs, public seminars and international conferences.

Her works have been exhibited nationally and internationally in numerous juried group and solo exhibitions. Some of the venues where her works have been included are Love Lace international competition and exhibition at the Powerhouse Museum in Sydney, Australia; Triennial OFF - part of Five Continues 7th International Triennial of Contemporary Textile Arts of Tournai at Arrêt 59 in Belgium; 6th World Textile Art Biennial-Air at Anahuacalli Museum in Mexico City and at The Institute of Fine Arts in Xalapa, Mexico; From Lausanne to Beijing - the 6th International Fiber Art Biennale Exhibition at Henan Art Museum in Zhengzhou, China, and many other venues for mixed media contemporary art, such as the Urban Institute for Contemporary Arts in Grand Rapids, N'Namdi Center for Contemporary Art in Detroit, and FSU Museum of Fine Arts in Tallahassee.

Gao has received exhibition awards from internationally juried shows and her creative work has been supported through funds and fellowships from universities and foundations.

Xia Gao's website