Xia Xia, MA

New Jerusalem in London
Egg tempera, gold leaf, earth and mineral pigments on gesso board
83.82 x 83.82 cm

Artist Statement

A girl grew up with wood shavings; she likes trees and wood, climbing trees and sleeping in the wood shavings – it is her childhood. When she grew up she devoted herself to carpentry. For six years, in my studio I made artwork which bridged furniture and architecture.. Yet I felt a void—how could my work reflect deeper truths? So I chose to apply to The School of Traditional Arts. During my studies here, the memory of the Lord’s Prayer is constantly awakened. When I was nine my mother taught me to recite the Lord’s Prayer. I liked one sentence in particular:“⾏在地上如同⾏在天上” (“on earth as it is in heaven”). When I arrived in London and joined the local church, we read “On earth as it is in heaven” and I felt its beauty truly enter my heart.

Art for me is an act of service. I use wood and paint to tell a story to explain the close relationship between the practical skill and the sacred. In my First year, I tried to combine the Tree of Life Biblical symbolism with Chinese motifs to explain Chinese philosophy and the Oneness of heaven and earth, celebrating creation’s interconnectedness. In my second year, I continue this mission: transforming spaces into stories of hope, where craftsmanship meets spirituality.

My projects include painting the “Jerusalem of London” and presenting The Book of Ruth, Old Testament; this latter project mixes the traditional Chinese art of shadow puppetry with stained glass. Both projects are created in the hope that viewers will understand a little of what is meant by “ on earth as it is in heaven.”