While observing the works of XiaJing, psychoanalysis comes into my mind, especially regarding her latest paintings, reflections in the washbasin.

This work explores the relation of oneself with oneself’s own image and the “other side” of that self.

As a modern interpretation of the myth of Narcissus, XiaJing conducts a dialogue with her image reflected in the water as a first action one can conduct in the morning after wake up.

Taking the distance from the realm of dreams, one prepares oneself for the journey into reality. Yet, these works are permeated by melancholia; one could even see a nostalgic attitude for the dreaming status of the night.

XiaJing wonders, who is the true self? The self one believes he/she is, of the image reflected in the water? Dangerous question, since the reflected image is both an angel and a demon. In some of the paintings, the combination between the face features and the water pipe creates a “monster of the reason” (Goya ), which reminds the paintings by Bosch and its errands into the labyrinth of the subconscious.

We are observing the path of XiaJing towards the inner consciousness, and we expect wonders and good surprises as long as she will proceed towards the identification between the two halves of herself.

I am sure that XiaJing’s complete self will be the “angel”, giving to the history of Chinese contemporary art new aesthetic accomplishments.