Xie Caomin’s recent body of oil paintings is created by laboriously “interlacing” one image upon another creating multiple layers of color and texture. With this method, Xie achieves a subtle suggestion of movement. These paintings vibrate much like the flicker of a television screen — a reference he has noted to contemporary media. Within the process of continually painting over a painting, Xie explores the effects of using a deliberate and fixed media to imitate the transience and infinite multiplicity of the universe. With his recent “Thousand Buddha” works, Xie pushes this technique and aesthetic into the realm of pure meditative imagery.

This group of paintings is inspired by the Buddhist concept of “Chiliocosm” or “Countless Universes”. [My] art is based on this perception and on individual spirit. The redundant is the very important strategy in my painting. each of the individual element in my painting carries a distinct appearance. However, by constantly repeating the elements, each of the individuals would slowly be neutralized and finally will lead me to a non ego state.

–Xie Caomin

Ethan Cohen Fine Arts has exhibited Xie Caomin in several international and art fairs with great success and has placed his work in several many private and institutional collections.