Mulan 2018

Kexin Di made this oil painting, Mulan, on a canvas measuring 80 by 60 centimeters. I’m really drawn to the earthiness of this palette – shades of red and brown – it feels so grounded and rich. I like to imagine Di working on this, layering thin glazes of paint, building up this luminous, velvety surface, pushing and pulling the figure from the dark ground. The way she’s rendered the folds of that red robe – it’s like she’s not just painting fabric but capturing a sense of movement, almost like she’s channeling those Renaissance drapery masters! Then there's that sword hovering above. It gives the painting a surreal, almost dreamlike quality, suggesting the inner world of the character. It’s like she’s inviting us to contemplate Mulan’s strength, vulnerability, and her journey of self-discovery. It's all part of this incredible conversation between artists across time, each building on the ideas of those who came before.