Born in 1962 in Shanghai, where he still lives and works, Ding Yi is one of the leading abstract artists of our times. His works are instantly recognisable by the iconic, timeless motif of the cross – a theme whose possibilities he has been exploring for over 30 years. He continues to explore new forms of artistic expression through painting, sculpture, spatial installations, architecture, and new media. Since 1988, Ding Yi has continually overhauled his practice, developing a formal artistic vocabulary based on variations of multi-coloured “+”, “x”, “米” symbols detached from any meaning, cultural or social references. The artist captures the freedom of creation within the rigid framework of the grid, as well as the balance between rationality and sensibility, logic and spontaneity. While his works are non-narrative, they nevertheless reflect a holistic worldview and an ever-changing contemporaneity.