Yanyi Xiong possesses a Master of Arts in opera from the Royal Academy of Music and a Master of Arts inpainting from the Royal College of Art.
As a multidisciplinary artist, she synthesises her positions as an opera singer—soprano, painter, and composer—into a cohesive practice.
Her work focuses on the concept of the "vessel/container " (器, qi),
embodying the artistic idea of "utilising vessels to express all" while exploring the connection between "vessel" (器) and "qi" (气)
via the lens of "yun" (韵)—a philosophy of resonant vitality that permeates all creation.
Yan's pursuit of uncovering the essential truths of existence motivates her technique, imbuing her work with a distinctive waking character.
As a soprano, she converts her body into an instrument,
exploring the inherent connection between "instrumentality" (器性) and "self-nature" (自性).
This inquiry has led her to a framework based on an extensive philosophy of existence as well as art.
Yan's oeuvre, rooted in classical music, transcends disciplinary confines,
encompassing painting, installation, performance art, land art, video works, experimental theatre, and musical composition,
which includes a cappella choral pieces, chamber music, experimental soundscapes, opera, and film scores.
Yan's diverse body of work consistently maintains the complex relationship between sound and visuals beyond surface connections.
She establishes an ontological equivalence between the spiritual (sound) and tangible (seeing).
For example, her expansive ink paintings integrate land art and multimedia projections, like <Pray 祈>, <Bā Pá 岜扒>, and <Little Green 小绿>,
transcending the confines of traditional art genres.
Yan merges Eastern and Western audiovisual practices through the "container,"
a distinctive Chinese symbol,
creating a synthesis that surpasses cultural boundaries.
Despite originating from different cultural backgrounds, Western classical opera and Chinese ink painting both place significant importance on "breath" (气)
as the core of artistic expression.
In opera, breath is expressed as legato—a continuous, lively flow—while in ink painting,
it is represented as “qiyun shengdong” (气韵生动), the rhythmic dynamism of brushstrokes.
Notwithstanding their differing manifestations, both faiths disclose a profound isomorphism:
the essence of life is within our “vessel/breath” (器/气). “Breath/vessel” (气/器) resides at the confluence of autonomy and spontaneity.
The basic "emptiness" of "instrumentality" is based on our essential "self-nature,"
allowing art and life to come together across different forms and formlessness.
Yan contends that the principal aim of art is to convey fundamental wisdom rather than conceptual minds.
She perceives the "vessel" as a distinctive entity that surpasses functional definitions.
They elucidate the universal principles of nature.
A vessel concurrently encapsulates emptiness and substance,
surpassing dualities to reveal
the 'non-dual wisdom ' (不二智境).
The 'emptiness' uncovered through 'instrumentality' constitutes the core of my practice.
The ‘container-world' (器世间) serves as a reminder:
'Earth and I share a common origin; all entities and I are unified.'
We possess a shared wisdom,
developing via our connection with the vast expanse of the cosmos.
Art Genres & Chronology
Multi-Media Moving Image Work
< Little Green> Aesthetica Art Prize, selected for The 100 Global Emerging Artist, London, UK (2021)
Video Installation <Richmond Park> was shortlisted for Sala Gaitán in Teatro Municipal
Jorge Eliécer Gaitán in Bogotá Muestra Internacional de Video Arte Faenza VAF, Bogota, Colombia (2021)
<The Frequency Band> video screening and performance, HOXTON 253 Art Project Space, London, UK (2020)
Installation and Sound art <Studio Us is an Experiment>, Dyson Gallery, London, UK (2019)
<Little Stool>, Resident Project of World Intangible Cultural Heritage, GuiZhou, China (2019)
Video Installation <Banquet> Briser les Frontières at Glaerie Joseph Saint Martin, Paris, France (2017)
Painting
Solo Exhibition <True Mean>, Zhi Art Museum, Chengdu, China (2024)
Group Exhibition <Aesthetic Feast> La Galleria Pall Mall, Paris, France (2018)
Group Exhibition <Living Room> SafeHouse ,Cypher Space, London
Group Exhibition <WIP>, Royal College of Art, London, UK (2017)
Land Art & Performance Art
<THE PERFORMER> Photography Rome Fest 2020 - International Group Exhibition - at Millepiani - Rome, Italy (2020)
<Contract with the Skin> , Asia-Art-Activism Research Network, Raven Row Gallery, London, UK (2019)
Improvised Experimental Electro Acoustic with Live Performance Art <Large> , 93 Baker st. Gallery, London, UK (2018)
Sound Installation with Live Performance Art <Half Remembered Gesture>, Royal College of Art Graduate Thesis Exhibition, London, UK (2018)
Experimental music and sound installation <Banquet l>, Lychee One Gallery, London, UK (2017)
Visual sound impromptu performance <The Calling of Chu>, collaboration with Contrabass Recorder player Rosie Land, Lychee One Gallery, London, UK (2017)
<The Insistence of “Nature”>, Lychee One Gallery, London, UK (2017)
Experimental Theatre
Live improvisation of ancient Chinese musical instruments and experimental music <Que>, British Museum, London, UK (2018)
Experimental Electron-Acoustic Opera <Fist> ,Collaboration with Pan Daijing at Berlin Atonal Kraftwerk, Berlin, Germany (2017)
Experimental Interactive Electron-Acoustic Opera <The Future of Chu> , Collaboration with Darren Johnston at Guild Hall, London, UK (2018)
<Simple Things EXT> , IMAX Theatre, Bristol, UK (2019)
<Münchner Kammerspiele> Electro-Acoustic Avant-Garde Opera with audio-visual light installation ,
collaboration with Bill Kouligas and Spiros Hadjidjanos, Munich, Germany (2018)
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Opera
Soloist of contemporary opera <Lie with me> by composer Warwick Blair, King’s Palace, London, UK (2016)
Soloist of Final Masters Recital, Rudolf Steiner Theatre, London, UK (2016)
<La Ceneretola> Opera by Gioachino Rossini, played Clorinda, Don Magnifico’s older daughter,
working with Director: Bruno Ravella, Conducer: Gareth Hancock, Theater House, London, UK (2016)
<La Rondine> (The Swallow) opera by Giacomo Puccini, played the leading role: Lisette,
working with Director: Johnny Ramster, Conducer: Gareth Hancock, Duke’s Hall, Royal Academy of Music, London,UK (2016)
<Don Giovanni> Opera by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, played the Leading role: Donna Anna,
working with Director:Christopher Cowell, Conductor, Gareth Hancock, David Josefowitz Recital Hall, London, UK (2016)
<Flight> English opera music by Jonathan Dove, played the leading role: Controller,
working with Director: Bruno Ravella, Conductor: Gareth Hancock, RADA Studios, London, UK (2016)