THE PIECE OF ART
title : Paper cutting | artist : Xiyadie | date : – | Place : Varldskultur Museena, Sweden
THE ARTIST
Xiyadie was born in a small village in the northern Shaanxi province. He works in Beijing as a doorman, cook and cleaner. Like so many other gay Chinese of his age, he is married. He has two children in their 20s. According to sociological studies, some 90% of all gay men in China are married. In Confucian tradition, there are three types of lack of filial respect, and the worst is not to provide for the family line’s continuation. It is a strong social pressure. “I knew I liked men from an early age, but in the country, it’s completely unthinkable to come out as gay, it’s even seen as criminal.”
EXPLANATION OF THE PIECE
Homosexuality
DESCRIPTION
Xiyadie has developed this traditional folk art from the expression of collective cultural memories to the depiction and expression of the life and emotions of the individual. His paper cuttings are fearless depictions of same-sex life and his particular path out of the closet. This old traditional art, which faced extinction, becomes a lively modern art form in Xiyadie’s hands. (website)
