By: Elena Mart
Contemporary artist Siqi Qin’s much-anticipated solo exhibition, “A Rose Is A Rose”, has officially opened at the Ruipin Gallery in Shanghai’s M50 Art District. The exhibition, a captivating blend of commercial photography’s sharp precision and the conceptual depth of fine art, has already begun to spark intense discussions across the art world. The opening event attracted a distinguished group of guests, including actress Wang Jiajia, curators Gan Yingying and Yao Yao, renowned artists Ni Weihua and Xu Haifeng, as well as economist Li Zhenning. The gallery, a key hub for contemporary art in Shanghai, buzzed with excitement as cultural and art community members gathered to experience this dynamic intersection of modern expression and visual poetry.
Structure and Poetics: A Dialectical Inquiry into the Boundaries of Image-Making
Siqi Qin’s works demonstrate an intricate dance between the logic of commercial photography and the conceptual framework of fine art. The exhibition explores the tension between the meticulously constructed visuals of advertising and the emotional and intellectual weight of art photography. “Siqi Qin’s work entwines the meticulous grammar of commercial photography with subversive visual tension,” said artist Wang Qingsong, who provided academic support for the exhibition. “Her near-ritualistic use of soft light envelops her subjects, creating profound atmospheres where delicate yet undeniable contrasts emerge. This deliberate fracturing of visual order serves as both a critique and meditation on contemporary image production—asking whether the ‘new visual paradigm’ perpetuates tradition or harbors latent rebellion.”
Sensual Philosophy and Cultural Suturing: The Metaphoric Resonance of East-West Aesthetics
Through the use of symbolic imagery, Siqi Qin presents an engaging cultural dialogue between Eastern and Western visual philosophies. Flowers and the human form become metaphoric agents through which she explores the boundaries of perception and identity. The exhibition incorporates “negative space”—a foundational principle of Eastern aesthetics—within the framework of Western expressionism, resulting in emotionally charged, surreal visual landscapes. This fusion of experimental photographic techniques and theatrical composition creates a powerful tension between structure and ambiguity. In each piece, Siqi’s art becomes a vehicle for philosophical inquiry, inviting viewers to contemplate themes of desire, self-identity, and existential reflection.
From Athlete to Artist: Sensory Reconfiguration in a Transdisciplinary Context
Siqi Qin’s path to art has been deeply shaped by her background as a competitive swimmer. Born in 1998, she first gained recognition in both China and the U.S. for her athletic achievements. Her years of discipline and training in the physical arts have profoundly impacted her artistic practice, particularly in her exploration of the “perception-body-image” relationship. “The experience of controlling and understanding my body through sports gives me a unique perspective on how the body interacts with its environment and its representation in visual art,” Siqi shared. “This heightened awareness of the body’s mechanics translates into my photography, where I seek to capture not only the image but also the sensation of being within that image.”
Siqi’s experience living abroad for nearly a decade further enriched her artistic practice, expanding her cultural horizons and providing a global context for her works. The fusion of her personal experiences with her academic and artistic sensibilities results in a body of work that resonates with viewers on an international scale, bridging cultural divides through the universal language of visual art.
Exhibition Details
The exhibition, “A Rose Is A Rose”, is open to the public at the Ruipin Gallery in Shanghai’s M50 Art District until June 30, 2025. Visitors are invited to explore Siqi Qin’s deeply philosophical and sensory-rich visual odyssey, which offers a compelling exploration of contemporary photography’s role in shaping and challenging the perception of modern identity.
