Xiyadie (born August 27, 1963) (Zhee-ya-dee; [1] in English: "Siberian Butterfly" [2] ) is a Chinese artist. He is known for using traditional Chinese paper cutting to incorporate themes of gay identity, personal struggle, and societal critique. [2]
Xiyadie was born on August 27, 1963, [1] in a small village in Shaanxi province in northwestern China. [3] Xiyadie grew up in a conservative environment based on traditional values. From an early age, he was aware of his attraction to men, but due to societal pressure, he married a woman and had two children. [1] [4]
He began his work as an artist in the 1980s. [5] His art features Chinese paper cutting, which he saw as a means to connect with his ancestry while exploring his identity and discussing queer themes and experiences. [6] [7] [8]
His major works include Joy (1999), [7] Xiang (2012), [7] Music (2016), [7] and Train (2022). [8]
In 2009, he was included in the Difference-Gender exhibition of LGBTQ Chinese artists. [2] In 2024, Xiyadie held a solo show titled "Queer Cut Utopias" at The Drawing Center in New York City. [1] Xiyadie's art featured in the Richard Saltoun Gallery and Blindspot Gallery. [6] His was included in the collection Contemporary Queer Chinese Art: A Buried Voice (2023). [2] [7] [9]