Debris of Eternity (2023) by Qiu Xiaofei was acquired by the M Art Foundation and donated to the Singapore Art Museum.
Qiu Xiaofei’s practice traverses painting, installation, and theoretical writing, weaving together geography, personal memory, and philosophical speculation into a multifaceted visual language.
In Debris of Eternity, Qiu draws inspiration from Chinese traditional painting genre ‘Portraits of Periodical Offering’, reinterpreting the imperial tribute tradition through a lens that resists hierarchical power narratives, instead proposing a visual field of coexistence and shared civilisation. This ancient tradition is reimagined as contemporary images in vivid colors, featuring exaggerated deformities and the Aesopian language of magical realism. Such distinctive narration serves as a vehicle for the artist’s recollections and fantasies, further merging the threads of past and present, the individual and collective, and his personal memories of his family with the geopolitical relationship between his hometown of Harbin, China, and the former Soviet Union.
Qiu offers a profound exploration of reality and the human psyche, reflected in the mystical allure of his paintings. Drawing from memory, fantasy, and historical references, his works unveil the depths of human consciousness while seamlessly blending Eastern and Western aesthetics across different time periods. Transcending mere representation, Qiu’s paintings invite the viewer to contemplate layered meanings of time, identity, and historical memory through a surreal yet intimate visual lexicon.
This donation is part of M Art Foundation’s ongoing commitment to supporting artist-led initiatives that foster experimental and cross-regional practices. Since relocating to Singapore, the Foundation has enhanced its focus on Chinese and Southeast Asian artists through dedicated research and partnerships. The Foundation’s collaboration with the Singapore Art Museum supports the expansion of SAM’s contemporary collection, enriching its commitment to diverse and forward-thinking artistic voices in Asia.
Courtesy of the Artist and Xavier Hufkens, Brussels. Photo credit: HV-Studio
Qiu Xiaofei (b. 1977, Harbin, China) graduated from the Central Academy of Fine Arts Beijing in 2002, and now lives and works in Beijing. His work has been featured in major exhibitions internationally, including in M+, Hong Kong (2023); Taikang Art Museum, Beijing (2023); G Museum, Nanjing (2023); UCCA Edge, Shanghai (2022); He Art Museum, Guangdong (2021); Fort Gansevoort, New York (2018); Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, Bentonville (2018); Tampa Museum of Art, Florida (2014); Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen, Rotterdam (2014); Ullens Center for Contemporary Art, Beijing (2013); Long Museum, Shanghai (2013); The 10th Havana Biennial, Havana (2009); Tate Liverpool, Liverpool (2007); ZKM | Museum of Contemporary Art, Karlsruhe (2007); Kunstmuseum Bern, Switzerland (2005).
