Since the early 1990s, Wang Xingwei (b. 1969, Shenyang; lives and works in Beijing) has pioneered a painterly vision that links Chinese contemporary art intelligently to its Western referents, socialist realist precedents, and immediate cultural context through a universe of recurring characters rendered in seemingly infinite subtle variations of style and composition. Wang is reflexive about the visual language he has inherited, but relentlessly inventive in its deployment. An artist known for his quirky sensibility and sharp wit, Wang freely appropriates style and content from different traditions, employing them in highly creative and dramatic scenarios. 



Comprising 74 works, the exhibition features a maze-like, non-chronological layout in which the space is subdivided into three major sections based on the relationship of the painter or viewer to the figure depicted: rear views, profiles, and frontal views. This logic paradoxically also serves to group the works thematically and serially. Most of the works on view have been borrowed back from private collections in Europe and throughout China, and have never before been seen together. 



“Wang Xingwei” represents the culmination of a long collaboration between UCCA and the artist. One of the original artists to enter the collection of the Fondation Guy & Myriam Ullens, Wang worked last year on the final episode in UCCA's “Curated By…” series, producing an exhibition of seven young painters whose work explored similar themes to his own. Wang also has a painting on view in the concurrent exhibition “DUCHAMP and/or/in CHINA,” which positions one of Wang's artistic heroes in relation to the Chinese scene.



In bringing together Wang's key achievements of the first two decades of his career, this exhibition will contribute significantly to the reassessment and elevation of a key figure in contemporary Chinese art, who through the complexity of his vision proves the depth and richness of the tradition to which he belongs.

"Wang Xingwei" Installation View, Wang Xingwei, 2013.5.19 -- 2013.8.18, Original Source: http://ucca.org.cn/en/exhibition/wang-xingwei/
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Installation View, Photo: Luke Walker

"Wang Xingwei" Installation View, Wang Xingwei, 2013.5.19 -- 2013.8.18, Original Source: http://ucca.org.cn/en/exhibition/wang-xingwei/
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Installation View, Photo: Luke Walker

"Wang Xingwei" Installation View, Wang Xingwei, 2013.5.19 -- 2013.8.18, Original Source: http://ucca.org.cn/en/exhibition/wang-xingwei/
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Installation View, Photo: Luke Walker

"Wang Xingwei" Installation View, Wang Xingwei, 2013.5.19 -- 2013.8.18, Original Source: http://ucca.org.cn/en/exhibition/wang-xingwei/
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Installation View, Photo: Luke Walker

"Wang Xingwei" Installation View, Wang Xingwei, 2013.5.19 -- 2013.8.18, Original Source: http://ucca.org.cn/en/exhibition/wang-xingwei/
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Installation View, Photo: Luke Walker

"Wang Xingwei" Installation View, Wang Xingwei, 2013.5.19 -- 2013.8.18, Original Source: http://ucca.org.cn/en/exhibition/wang-xingwei/
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Installation View, Photo: Luke Walker

"Wang Xingwei" Installation View, Wang Xingwei, 2013.5.19 -- 2013.8.18, Original Source: http://ucca.org.cn/en/exhibition/wang-xingwei/
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Installation View, Photo: Luke Walker

"Wang Xingwei" Installation View, Wang Xingwei, 2013.5.19 -- 2013.8.18, Original Source: http://ucca.org.cn/en/exhibition/wang-xingwei/
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Installation View, Photo: Luke Walker

"Wang Xingwei" Installation View, Wang Xingwei, 2013.5.19 -- 2013.8.18, Original Source: http://ucca.org.cn/en/exhibition/wang-xingwei/
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Installation View, Photo: Luke Walker

"Wang Xingwei" Installation View, Wang Xingwei, 2013.5.19 -- 2013.8.18, Original Source: http://ucca.org.cn/en/exhibition/wang-xingwei/
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Installation View, Photo: Luke Walker

"Wang Xingwei" Installation View, Wang Xingwei, 2013.5.19 -- 2013.8.27, Original Source: http://ucca.org.cn/en/exhibition/wang-xingwei/
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Installation View, Photo: Luke Walker

"Wang Xingwei" Installation View, Wang Xingwei, 2013.5.19 - 2013.8.18, Original Source: http://ucca.org.cn/en/exhibition/wang-xingwei/
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Installation View, Photo: Luke Walker

"Wang Xingwei" Installation View, Wang Xingwei, 2013.5.19 -- 2013.8.18, Original Source: http://ucca.org.cn/en/exhibition/wang-xingwei/
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Installation View, Photo: Luke Walker

"Wang Xingwei" Installation View, Wang Xingwei, 2013.5.19 -- 2013.8.18, Original Source: http://ucca.org.cn/en/exhibition/wang-xingwei/
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Installation View, Photo: Luke Walker

“Wang Xingwei” Installation View, Wang Xingwei, 2013.5.19 - 2013.8.18, Original Source: http://ucca.org.cn/en/exhibition/wang-xingwei/
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Installation View, Photo: Luke Walker

"Wang Xingwei" Installation View, Wang Xingwei, 2013.5.19 -- 2013.8.18, Original Source: http://ucca.org.cn/en/exhibition/wang-xingwei/
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Installation View, Photo: Luke Walker

Wang Xingwei, No Matter How Busy He Is,Brother-in-Law Won't Forget You, Wang Xingwei, 2013.5.19 -- 2013.8.18, Original Source: http://ucca.org.cn/en/exhibition/wang-xingwei/
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No Matter How Busy He is, Brother-in-law won't Forget You, 2001, acrylic on canvas, 200 x 300 cm, Private collection, Beijing 

Wang Xingwei, Untitled, Hostess and Nurse in a Raft, Wang Xingwei, 2013.5.19 -- 2013.8.18, Original Source: http://ucca.org.cn/en/exhibition/wang-xingwei/
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Untitled (Hostess and nurse in a raft), 2005,Oil on canvas,195 x 222 cm, Private collection, Switzerland Courtesy galerie Urs Meile 

Wang Xingwei, Untitled (Large Rowboat), Wang Xingwei, 2013.5.19 -- 2013.8.18, Original Source: http://ucca.org.cn/en/exhibition/wang-xingwei/
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Untitled (Large rowboat), 2006, Oil on canvas, 200 x 260 cm, M+ Sigg Collection 

Wang Xingwei, Untitled (Medium Rowboat), Wang Xingwei, 2013.5.19 -- 2013.8.18, Original Source: http://ucca.org.cn/en/exhibition/wang-xingwei/
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Untitled (Medium Rowboat), 2006,Oil on canvas,120 x 160 cm, Erlenmeyer Foundation, Switzerland Courtesy galerie Urs Meile 

Wang Xingwei, Untitled (Man Hugging a Tree), Wang Xingwei, 2013.5.19 -- 2013.8.18, Original Source: http://ucca.org.cn/en/exhibition/wang-xingwei/
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Untitled (Man Hugging a Tree), 2006, Oil on canvas,163 x 136 cm, Private collection, Switzerland Courtesy Galerie Urs Meile 

Wang Xingwei, Untitled (Nurse and Trees), Wang Xingwei, 2013.5.19 -- 2013.8.18, Original Source: http://ucca.org.cn/en/exhibition/wang-xingwei/
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Untitled (Nurse and Trees), 2005, Oil on canvas,184 x 140 cm, Collection of Ellen and Michael Ringier, Switzerland, Courtesy galerie Urs Meile 

Wang Xingwei, Untitled (Nurse Hugg ing a Tree), Wang Xingwei, 2013.5.19 -- 2013.8.18, Original Source: http://ucca.org.cn/en/exhibition/wang-xingwei/
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Untitled (Nurse Hugging a Tree), 2006, Oil on canvas, 135 x 135 cm,       Colonnello Collection, Italy, Courtesy Galerie Urs Meile 

Wang Xingwei, Untitled (Bonsai Old Lady), Wang Xingwei, 2013.5.19 -- 2013.8.18, Original Source: http://ucca.org.cn/en/exhibition/wang-xingwei/
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Untitled (Bonsai Old Lady), 2012, Oil on canvas, 150 x 180 cm, Private collection, Taipei Courtesy Galerie Urs Meile 

Wang Xingwei, Untitled (Flowerpot Old Lady), Wang Xingwei, 2013.5.19 -- 2013.8.18, Original Source: http://ucca.org.cn/en/exhibition/wang-xingwei/
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Untitled (Flowerpot Old Lady), 2011, Oil on canvas, 117 x 91.5 cm, Private collection, Beijing 

Wang Xingwei, Untitled (Old Lady No. 2), Wang Xingwei, 2013.5.19 -- 2013.8.18, Original Source: http://ucca.org.cn/en/exhibition/wang-xingwei/
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Untitled (Old Lady No. 2), 2011, Oil on canvas,120 x 120 cm, Collection He Jing Yuan Art Museum 

Wang Xingwei, Untitled (Small Old Lady on th e Balcony), Wang Xingwei, 2013.5.19 -- 2013.8.18, Original Source: http://ucca.org.cn/en/exhibition/wang-xingwei/
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Untitled (Small Old Lady on the Balcony), 2011, Oil on canvas, 80 x 80 cm, Courtesy Galerie Urs Meile 

Wang Xingwei, Untitled (Penguin Trolleys), Wang Xingwei, 2013.5.19 -- 2013.8.18, Original Source: http://ucca.org.cn/en/exhibition/wang-xingwei/
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Untitled (Penguin Trolleys), 2008, Oil on canvas, 200 x 200 cm, Erlenmeyer Foundation, Switzerland Courtesy Galerie Urs Meile 

Wang Xingwei, Untitled (Death of a Panda), Wang Xingwei, 2013.5.19 -- 2013.8.40, Original Source: http://ucca.org.cn/en/exhibition/wang-xingwei/
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Untitled (Death of a Panda), 2004, Oil on canvas, 154 x 199 cm, Private collection, Switzerland Courtesy Galerie Urs Meile 

Wang Xingwei, Untitled (Golf Player and Watermelons No. 2), Wang Xingwei, 2013.5.19 -- 2013.8.18, Original Source: http://ucca.org.cn/en/exhibition/wang-xingwei/
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Untitled (Golf Player and Watermelons No. 1), 2005, Oil on canvas, 137 x 210 cm, Private collection, Beijing 

Wang Xingwei, Untitled (Outing), Wang Xingwei, 2013.5.19 -- 2013.8.18, Original Source: http://ucca.org.cn/en/exhibition/wang-xingwei/
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Untitled (Outing), 1999, acrylic on canvas, 120 x 280 cm, Guan Yi Contemporary Art Archive 

Wang Xingwei, Untitled (Moondoor), Wang Xingwei, 2013.5.19 -- 2013.8.18, Original Source: http://ucca.org.cn/en/exhibition/wang-xingwei/
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Untitled, (Moondoor), 2007, Oil on canvas, 200 x 200 cm, Courtesy Galerie Urs Meile 

Wang Xingwei, Untitled (Breasts), Wang Xingwei, 2013.5.19 -- 2013.8.18, Original Source: http://ucca.org.cn/en/exhibition/wang-xingwei/
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Untitled (Breasts), 2007, Oil on canvas, 135 x 135 cm, Manuel Salvisberg, Lucerne Courtesy Galerie Urs Meile 

Wang Xingwei, Nude, Wang Xingwei, 2013.5.19 -- 2013.8.18, Original Source: http://ucca.org.cn/en/exhibition/wang-xingwei/
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Nude, 2003, Oil on corrugated board, 210 x 180 cm, Private collection, Switzerland Courtesy Galerie Urs Meile 

Wang Xingwei, Female Body and Geometric Solid, Wang Xingwei, 2013.5.19 -- 2013.8.18, Original Source: http://ucca.org.cn/en/exhibition/wang-xingwei/
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Female Body and Geometric solid, 2011, Oil on canvas, 70 x 60 cm, Collection of Urs Meile, Switzerland Courtesy Galerie Urs Meile 

Wang Xingwei, Untitled (Three Nudes), Wang Xingwei, 2013.5.19 -- 2013.8.57, Original Source: http://ucca.org.cn/en/exhibition/wang-xingwei/
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Untitled (Three Nudes), 2002, Oil on canvas, 196 x 153 cm, Courtesy Galerie Urs Meile 

Wang Xingwei, Untitled (Selling Egg s), Wang Xingwei, 2013.5.19 -- 2013.818, Original Source: http://ucca.org.cn/en/exhibition/wang-xingwei/
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Untitled (Selling Eggs), 2007, Oil on canvas, 240 x 200 cm, Collection of Qiao Zhibing, Courtesy Galerie Urs Meile 

Wang Xingwei, A Sunday Afternoon in the Youth Park, Wang Xingwei, 2013.5.19 -- 2013.8.18, Original Source: http://ucca.org.cn/en/exhibition/wang-xingwei/
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A Sunday Afternoon in the Youth Park, 2009, Oil on canvas, 165 x 300 cm, M+ Sigg Collection, Hong Kong 

Wang Xingwei, Untitled (Riding a Leath er Suitcase), Wang Xingwei, 2013.5.19 -- 2013.8.18, Original Source: http://ucca.org.cn/en/exhibition/wang-xingwei/
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Untitled (Riding a Leather Suitcase), 2004, Oil on canvas, 135 x 163 cm, Private collection, Switzerland Courtesy Galerie Urs Meile 

Wang Xingwei, Dawn, Wang Xingwei, From the collection of: UCCA Center for Contemporary Art
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Dawn, 1994, Oil on canvas, 240 x 300 cm, Courtesy Hanart TZ gallery 

Wang Xingwei, My Beautiful Life, Wang Xingwei, 1993/1995, From the collection of: UCCA Center for Contemporary Art
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My Beautiful Life, 1993–1995, Oil on canvas, 180 x 240 cm, Sigg Collection 

Wang Xingwei, Blind, Wang Xingwei, 1996, From the collection of: UCCA Center for Contemporary Art
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Blind, 1996, Oil on canvas, 200 x 180 cm, Fondation Guy & Myriam Ullens 

Wang Xingwei, Untitled (Penguin and hole), Wang Xingwei, From the collection of: UCCA Center for Contemporary Art
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Untitled (Penguin and Hole), 2004, Oil on corrugated board, 94 x 211 cm, Erlenmeyer Foundation, Switzerland Courtesy Galerie Urs Meile 

Wang Xingwei, Ascending, Wang Xingwei, 2013.5.19 -- 2013.8.18, Original Source: http://ucca.org.cn/en/exhibition/wang-xingwei/
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Ascending, 1999, acrylic on canvas, 84 x 198 cm, Modern Chinese Art Foundation, Belgium 

Wang Xingwei, Untitled (Inverted Image), Wang Xingwei, 2013.5.19 -- 2013.8.18, Original Source: http://ucca.org.cn/en/exhibition/wang-xingwei/
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Untitled (Inverted Image), 2003, acrylic on canvas and corrugated board, 240 x 190 cm, Private collection, Switzerland Courtesy Galerie Urs Meile 

Wang Xingwei, Poor Old Hamilton, Wang Xingwei, 2013.5.19 -- 2013.8.18, Original Source: http://ucca.org.cn/en/exhibition/wang-xingwei/
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All Happy Families are similar (1), 1994, Oil on canvas, 240 x 170 cm 

Wang Xingwei, Mao Yan, Wang Xingwei, 2013.5.19 -- 2013.8.18, Original Source: http://ucca.org.cn/en/exhibition/wang-xingwei/
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Mao Yan, 2010, Oil on canvas, 200 x 160 cm, Private collection, Switzerland Courtesy Galerie Urs Meile 

Wang Xingwei, Comrade Xiao He No. 4, Wang Xingwei, 2013.5.19 -- 2013.8.18, Original Source: http://ucca.org.cn/en/exhibition/wang-xingwei/
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Comrade Xiao He No. 4, 2008, Oil on canvas, 100 x 80 cm, Private collection, Switzerland Courtesy Galerie Urs Meile 

Wang Xingwei, Untitled (Painter), Wang Xingwei, 2013.5.19 -- 2013.8.18, Original Source: http://ucca.org.cn/en/exhibition/wang-xingwei/
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Untitled (Painter), 2011, Oil on canvas, 150 x 120 cm, Erlenmeyer Foundation, Switzerland Courtesy Galerie Urs Meile 

Wang Xingwei, Untitled (Figure Seen From the Back), Wang Xingwei, 2013.5.19 -- 2013.8.18, Original Source: http://ucca.org.cn/en/exhibition/wang-xingwei/
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Untitled (Figure Seen From The Back), 2009, Oil on canvas, 200 x 200 cm, Private collection, Switzerland Courtesy Galerie Urs Meile 

Wang Xingwei, Little Navy, Wang Xingwei, 2013.5.19 -- 2013.8.58, Original Source: http://ucca.org.cn/en/exhibition/wang-xingwei/
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Little Navy, 2006, Oil on canvas, 115 x 163 cm, Private collection, Beijing 

Wang Xingwei, Pura Tanah Lot Temple, Wang Xingwei, 2013.5.19 -- 2013.8.18, Original Source: http://ucca.org.cn/en/exhibition/wang-xingwei/
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Pura Tanah Lot Temple, 2011, Oil on canvas, 150 x 150 cm, Sigg Collection, Courtesy Galerie Urs Meile 

Wang Xingwei, Untitled (Comedy), Wang Xingwei, 2013.5.19 -- 2013.8.18, Original Source: http://ucca.org.cn/en/exhibition/wang-xingwei/
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Untitled  (Comedy), 2010, Oil on canvas 301 x 398 cm, Collection of Qiao Zhibing 

Wang Xingwei, The East is Red, Wang Xingwei, 2013.5.19 -- 2013.8.55, Original Source: http://ucca.org.cn/en/exhibition/wang-xingwei/
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The East is Red, 1995, Oil on canvas, 180 x 180 cm, Private collection, Switzerland Courtesy Galerie Urs Meile 

Wang Xingwei, Eight Women’s Suicide in a River, Wang Xingwei, 2013.5.19 -- 2013.8.18, Original Source: http://ucca.org.cn/en/exhibition/wang-xingwei/
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Eight Women’s Suicide in a River, 2003, Oil on canvas, 195 x 300 cm, Private collection, Beijing 

Wang Xingwei, Developmental Step, Wang Xingwei, 2013.5.19 -- 2013.8.18, Original Source: http://ucca.org.cn/en/exhibition/wang-xingwei/
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Wang Xingwei, Developmental Step, Wang Xingwei, 2013.5.19 -- 2013.8.18, Original Source: http://ucca.org.cn/en/exhibition/wang-xingwei/
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Wang Xingwei, Developmental Step, Wang Xingwei, 2013.5.19 - 2013.8.18, Original Source: http://ucca.org.cn/en/exhibition/wang-xingwei/
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Developmental Step,1997, Oil on canvas, 130 x 440 cm, Guan Yi Contemporary Art Archive  Developmental Step,1997, Oil on canvas, 130 x 440 cm, Guan Yi Contemporary Art Archive  Developmental Step,1997, Oil on canvas, 130 x 440 cm, Guan Yi Contemporary Art Archive 


Wang Xingwei, St andard Ex pression of After 1989, Wang Xingwei, 2013.5.19 -- 2013.8.18, Original Source: http://ucca.org.cn/en/exhibition/wang-xingwei/
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Standard Expression oF after 1989, 1995, Oil on canvas, 150 x 200 cm, Private collection, Shanghai 

Wang Xingwei, Untitled (Watering Flowers), Wang Xingwei, From the collection of: UCCA Center for Contemporary Art
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Untitled (Watering Flowers), 2013, oil on canvas, 240 x 200 cm. Courtesy the artist and Galerie Urs Meile.

Credits: Story

Major support for this exhibition comes from — Qiao Zhibing and Galerie Urs Meile, with additional support from the Fondation Guy & Myriam Ullens

Credits: All media
The story featured may in some cases have been created by an independent third party and may not always represent the views of the institutions, listed below, who have supplied the content.
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