XU YANG | THEREFORE I AM: Dio Horia Gallery is pleased to present the solo exhibition of London-based Chinese artist Xu Yang, entitled 'Therefore I Am'. Xu’s first solo exhibition in Greece is focusing on the never-ending journey of identity, passion and power.

The exhibition showcases the results of the artist’s residency at Dio Horia (April 2022), and opened on May 4th, in the presence of the artist. Xu delivered a location-based performance during the opening of the show, sharing her extravagant, luxuriously fine aura with the audience.

 With a solid background in classical composition and landscape techniques, the artist’s meticulously layered canvas is filled with luscious, thick brushstrokes, offering an end result resembling a decadent cake, directly influenced by Rococo’s elaborate ornamentation, curved lines, and a pastel color palette that helps illustrate actions and bring fantasies to life.

Starting from a place where the sex/gender distinction is collapsing, there is no “natural body” pre-existing its cultural inscription. For, as per J. Butler, bodies are gendered from the beginning of their social existence, there is no existence that is not social, and there is no sex that is not always already gender. In this way, the artist offers an active perspective that is ultimately political, pushing boundaries, challenging & delicately directing the way the viewer experiences and interprets the phenomena that they observe.

Quoting the artist, “This show, it is my presence; behind thinking, there is a conscious construction.” Or, in other words, Creo, Ergo Sum [I create, therefore I am].