We are pleased to present “Haja,” a solo exhibition by WANG Xueyang (b. 1986, Inner Mongolia, China), her first at GALLERY KOGURE since 2021.

Wang creates porcelain works using her original underglaze painting technique called Diecai, which she developed independently. She handles every step of the process herself, from forming to painting. Her painterly decoration is particularly remarkable, allowing for a wide range of vivid and nuanced colors. With her imagination and exceptional rendering skills, she achieves a truly distinctive artistic expression.

The Diecai technique produces a refined matte surface with a soft, embossed texture, skillfully utilizing the physical properties of the pigments themselves.

The theme of this exhibition, “Haja” (literally meaning “dispelling evil”), explores contemporary human existence through the lens of traditional wisdom. We invite you to experience Wang Xueyang’s ever-evolving artistic world.

-GALLERY KOGURE

The title of this exhibition, Haja (literally “Dispelling Evil”), originates from the Kuji Mantra—a nine-character esoteric incantation used in esoteric Buddhism to ward off evil:
“Rin, Pyo, To, Sha, Kai, Jin, Retsu, Zai, Zen”
These characters translate roughly as:
“Soldiers at the ready, warriors in battle, all form ranks and stand at the front.”

This mantra encourages a focused state of mind—by silently reciting it, one turns away from worldly distractions and dedicates oneself to the true path. In doing so, one can remain free from impurity and spiritual harm.

In the modern world, however, we are surrounded by what can be considered contemporary “evil energies”: insatiable material desire, cruelty toward others, malice expressed anonymously online, emotional weakness born of escapism, and even self-harm. These manifestations of negativity reflect the spiritual pollution of our time.

This exhibition explores the meanings embedded in selected characters from the Kuji Mantra—Rin-Pyo, To-Sha, Kai-Jin, Retsu, Zai-Zen, as well as Haja (Break Evil)—through sculptural porcelain works. Using my original underglaze technique Diecai, I express a series of fantastical narratives that unfold across the surfaces of porcelain forms.

-WANG Xueyang
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