2024 Xiao Lin Cartoons Vienna Exhibition

About the exhibition

Xiao Lins art stands in the tradition of the humorous and insightful ink paintings of Feng Zikai (1898 - 1975).

Picture and text form an indivisible synthesis in Xiao Lin’s cartoons. The philosophies of Daoism and Zen-Buddhism flow from them. They excellently address every day themes like love, friendship, money, work, mobile or family. The observer can see themselves in many of the depicted situations. Thus Xiao Lin follows in the Chinese tradition of the teaching by example.

Daoism is the oldest Chinese philosophy and religion. Its founder, Lao Zi (604 - 517 BC) explained the world and human existence as phenomenon of nature without any transcendent forces. Zen-Buddhism teaches meditation and introspection and in Japan, has given birth to Haiku poetry - existential shortest poems. Xiao Lins cartoons might well be characterised as drawn Haiku. Each cartoon is accompanied by a short, sometimes paradox, text, which is calligraphed onto the same piece of handmade rice paper by the artist. In combination with the pictured association, which is cast onto the paper by brush or fountain pen by Xiao Lin, a small piece of art is born, which provides the observer with a smile on their face as well as new thoughts, independent of their cultural origin.

The 35 pieces shown in the exhibition are sorted into the categories of friendship, love, hope, resignation and existence. They provide an introduction into Xiao Lin’s cosmos and his more than 5 million fans in the Chinese social media. Delicate, small round-faced humans, hares, bears and snowmen with small and big worries, joy and simple requisites like flowers, the globe, a couch, the sea or the moon are depicted.

The guest takes a smile back home.