Ding Yi: Constellations

“Constellations” presents a selection of recent works by Ding Yi, a key figure in contemporary Chinese abstraction. The exhibition focuses on his long-standing motif, the cross, explored since 1988 in the Appearance of Crosses series. Repeated across canvases, panels, and handmade papers, the crosses create dense, hypnotic patterns that emphasise rhythm, geometry, and perception rather than narrative. The artist introduces a new element, the star, merging celestial and cruciform imagery, inspired by his 2022 residency in Lhasa, Tibet. This hybrid motif evokes constellations and sacred symbolism, opening the work to a spiritual and ritualistic dimension. The pieces employ diverse materials and techniques, including acrylic, pigment, pastel, charcoal, metallic and fluorescent pigments, and woodcut, often applied in multiple layers to engage with texture and surface. Ding Yi’s visual language evokes city grids, night skies, and networks, enveloping the viewer in immersive visual experiences. Without a focal point, the work invites observation, sensation, and personal interpretation, reflecting the artist’s principle that “the cross means nothing and contains, at the same time, a multitude of things.”