In the Realm of the Untamed

Artist: Jiang Xinlin

In the Realm of the Untamed is a journey of inward-looking observation and an extension of Jiang Xinlin’s long-standing artistic trajectory. He continuously explores hybrid figures that merge human and animal forms, attempting to blur the seemingly clear—yet in fact fragile—boundary between “human” and “beast.” In his paintings, figures appear as if emerging from dreams or the subconscious, carrying unnamed emotions and instincts while quietly gazing back at the viewer. In these images, animals are not merely symbols of nature or wildness, but embodiments of the suppressed and overlooked aspects of human nature; meanwhile, the human figure is no longer a rational subject, but a constantly shifting state of being. Through exaggerated color and distorted forms, Jiang Xinlin investigates the deep and complex emotional connection between humans and nature, challenging our fixed assumptions about identity, roles, and boundaries.

This exhibition does not ask to be understood; rather, it is an invitation to feel. When viewers set aside categories and definitions, they may rediscover—within the images—those instincts, emotions, and primal states of life that still genuinely exist.

With bold and liberated colors and structures that are twisted yet full of tension, Jiang Xinlin depicts the fluctuations of his characters’ inner worlds. Human bodies are no longer complete; animal features naturally seep into them. These hybrid forms feel both unfamiliar and authentic, as if emotions themselves have found a visible shape. The works are filled with narrative and poetic qualities, yet they do not point to a single story. Instead, they leave an open space of sensation, allowing viewers to project their own interpretations and responses.