Xin Yin
Born in Kashgar in 1959, Xin Yin is a painter of Chinese origin, residing in Paris and known for his work on portraiting chinese socity and orientalizing traditional western images.
His paintings have been on display at the Victoria and Albert Museum, Staatliche Museen, Shanghai Art Museum, Musee Courbet, Museo Nacional del Grabado and on permanent display in the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris.
Yin is known for using Western oil painting techniques to express a certain oriental nostalgia in the era of European colonialism. His “Once Upon a Time in China” series presents a juxtaposition between Chinese high society and Paris’ Belle Epoque Era, Life in Paris, beginnings of aviation and lavish ladies as well as Opium houses in China. Shanghai in the 1930’s was at one time of main inspiration to show life of proeminent people, lawyers, business men, wealthy families as well as courtisanes and servants.
At a young age, Yin saw a painting of Gearges de la Tour and learnt from him the art of clair obscur. His work bears traces of the mottled texture of ancient murals, reminiscences, such as his paintings of Madonna and Son and Portrait of Martyr Chan Chang Pin on permanent display at Notre Dame de Paris Cathedral since 2017.
Recent exhibitions include:
2019 – Hospices de Beaune in Beaune Burgundy
2018 – Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris
2017 – Tanya Baxter Contemporary, Hong Kong and London
2016 – Botticelli Reimagined, Victoria and Albert Museum, London
His paintings are in prestigious collections around the world.
Family Afternoon Tea, Shanghai 1930s (1999)
oil on canvas
90 x 130 cm