Ru Xiaofan Chinese-French, b. 1954

Born in Nanjing, China, in 1954, Ru Xiaofan studied calligraphy, traditional Chinese painting and oil painting before joining the École nationale supérieure des Beaux-Arts in Paris, where he graduated in 1986 after studying in the studios of Olivier Debré and Pierre Alechinsky. The artist was awarded a fellowship at the Casa de Velázquez (1988–1990). His pictorial work, nourished by the dialogue between East and West, explores exile, memory, freedom and metamorphosis through motifs that have become emblematic, such as balloons and the Cent Fleurs series.
Exhibited in numerous institutions in France and internationally—including the Musée Guimet, Musée Cernuschi, Villa Tamaris, Today Art Museum (Beijing), He Xiangning Art Museum
(Shenzhen), Kunsthalle München, Palais de la Porte Dorée and SAMoCA (Riyadh)—Ru Xiaofan has developed a powerful and poetic visual language, where painting and sculpture meet,
balancing contemplation, humour and reflection on the human condition.