Arts Studies and Criticism

The French philosopher Jacques Derrida was the founder of deconstructionist theory, and his idea of 'deconstruction' has influenced Western academia in many fields, including art, aesthetics and architecture. Chinese contemporary art has been influenced by his ideas, subverting the dichotomy of author and work. This essay presents a selection of typical paintings by the contemporary Chinese artist Wang Xingwei, focusing on the embodiment of conceptual deconstruction in his oil paintings and exploring how the artist uses 'deconstructive thinking' as a strategy in his creative work. Since the 1990s, he has been using his art to inquire into the meaning of painting, finding traces in art historical images and viewing habits, and repeatedly exploring and experimenting in his paintings. His references, borrowings and deconstructions of art history and visual history are not only full of wisdom, but also always display a special sense of humour.