Studio Visit: Ding Yi on his major Venice exhibition ‘Cosmotechnics’

1 May 2026

In 1988 while studying at Shanghai Academy of Fine Arts, artist Ding Yi first adopted the cross as a motif, either in the form of a ‘+’ or ‘x’ symbol. This intentional departure from representational painting was a manifesto – a declaration of his dedication to abstraction, which has spanned decades to the present day. “Once I settled on the cross motif, I’ve never strayed from this course,” he says from his remarkable, high-ceilinged studio on the river in Shanghai.

“China had basically been cut off from Western art for about a century,” he continues, recalling the early days developing his now globally recognized style. “As I was learning, I had to figure out what I actually liked, and what kind of artist I wanted to be.”

The crosses were first arranged by Ding Yi in strict grids, and later developed into complex geometric patterns in a variety of palettes, including bright colors that echoed the architectural and economic explosion of Shanghai at the turn of the last century. Since 2011, the artist’s perspective has expanded into the cosmos, nature, and spirituality, gradually moving beyond the rationality of his earlier work toward a more intuitive sensibility, including patterns that mirror constellations and the night sky.

“Once I settled on the cross motif, I’ve never strayed from this course.”

This new profile of Ding Yi, made in collaboration with Lisson and ShanghArt, captures him on the eve of his exhibition, Cosmotechnics, at the Fondazione Querini Stampalia in Venice. Alongside key archive pieces, the artist has created a new series of twelve black-and-white relief paintings rendered in basswood, and two stone steles, either incised or rendered in relief, carved with his signature cross motif.

“Pretty much every civilization has used stone steles to record their history,” Ding Yi says about the inspiration behind his sizable new stone works. “I’m not just looking up at the sky and stars, I’m also looking back at ancient civilizations and bringing that into my creation.”

Cosmotechnics will be on display at the Fondazione Querini Stampalia in Venice from 9 May – 22 November 2026.

Find out more via Nowness.

Film: Courtesy Nowness, Lisson and ShanghART