B.1993, Nanjing, China
Lives and works in Paris, France
Yang Yi graduated from the Central Academy of Fine Arts (CAFA) in 2016 and obtained her Master's degree (DNSAP) from the École Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts of Paris in 2019, where she was awarded the jury prize. She also received the Prix des Amis des Beaux-Arts de Paris. She currently lives and works between France and China.
Yi’s artistic practice explores the relationship between the authenticity of images and memory, largely expressed through her paintings. Her recent works depict landscapes of indeterminate locations, often veiled in translucent layers. The ambiguous titles of her works indicate a subtle form of guidance while allowing them space to project their own experiences and memories. Since childhood, Yi has relocated multiple times with her family, and her cross-cultural experiences blur her perception of place and memory, prompting her to build a world suspended between imagination and reality.
Light has emerged as a central motif in Yi’s recent creations. Its intangible, ephemeral nature inspires her to capture it through various mediums, including painting, fresco and paper. Her visual works are often placed in diverse exhibition spaces, inviting visitors to engage with her narratives. Through years of exploration, "light" has evolved into both a subject and a conduit -- opening pathways to the reality she seeks to create, for herself and for her audience.