Born in Nantong, Jiangsu, China, in 1963, artist Xu Lei graduated from the Nanjing Arts Institute in 1984. He currently works at the Creation Research Centre of the China Art Academy, and is the Art Director of Today Art Museum and Editor-in-chief of “Classics” magazine.

Xu uses traditional tools, namely, rice paper and ink brushes, and absorbs inspiration on spirit and structure from the Song period style of painting and Ming period opera woodcuts, and yet opens a new path for Chinese painting by extracting modern concepts from artists such as Rene Magritte, Yves Klein and Marcel Duchamp.

In his works, he places delicately drawn horses, chairs from the Ming period, butterflies or birds in stage-like virtual spaces between curtains or folding screens that are embroidered with ancient maps. Through this subtle interplay of motifs, the relationship between “emptiness” and “phenomenal form”, the very essence of traditional Chinese life philosophy and aesthetic, is beautifully elaborated in a truly modern language.

A piece of Xu’s work has been selected by Chateau Mouton Rothschild for use on its label for the vintage 2008.