Su Xiaobai’s Alchemical Universe

The Su Xiaobai Foundation, in collaboration with the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA), presents “Su Xiaobai’s Alchemical Universe”, an exhibition of paintings by Chinese artist Su Xiaobai. Organised as an official Collateral Event of the 61st International Venice Biennale (2026), the survey is curated by Stephen Little and designed by architect Kulapat Yantrasast.

Installed across the rooms of Palazzo Soranzo Van Axel, the exhibition presents 35 works, ranging from the artist’s first lacquer experiments in 2003 to recent paintings created for this presentation. A central focus is the newest series, “Niao Niao”, which embodies sensations of transience through monochromatic tonalities reminiscent of classical ink paintings. In this practice, lacquer acts as an alchemical agent; a single painting may consist of up to twenty layers. These layers are often scored, abraded, and covered with translucent veils containing powdered pigments and metals.

While the titles remain ambiguous, the images explore the inner world of a global artist grounded in both Asian and European cultures. The exhibition marks a milestone in the artist’s career, featuring works on loan from the Su Xiaobai Foundation.