Ding Hongdan’s (b.1995) paintings explore the real lives and psychological states of her peers in contemporary contexts, presenting multiple reflections on daily life and social dynamics from a female perspective. Building on her strong academic background, she merges realism with a distinctive personal lens to explore the diverse experiences and emotions of contemporary women, revealing their complex inner worlds.

Born in 1995 in Guangzhou, Ding Hongdan now lives and works in Beijing. She entered the Affiliated High School of the Central Academy of Fine Arts in 2010. From 2014 to 2021, she studied at the Third Studio of the Oil Painting Department of the Central Academy of Fine Arts. In 2025, she earned her PhD from the Central Academy of Fine Arts.

Recent important solo exhibitions include: ‘Still Mad’, MAMOTH, London, UK (2024); ‘Afraid’, Start Museum, Shanghai, China (2023). Other recent group exhibitions include: ‘A Cloud in Trousers: Painting Today, curated by Yuan Fuca, West Bund Museum, Shanghai, China ‘Erratum and Misalignment’, MG Space, Beijing, China (2024); ‘Patternmaker’s Maze’, Lisson Gallery, Shanghai, China (2024); ‘The Dancing Floor of the World’, Gravity Art Museum, Beijing, China (2024); ‘The Quest of Young Artists’, Each Modern, Taipei, China; ‘TAG-New Contemporary, Seaward’, Tag Art Museum, Qingdao, China (2024). Ding Hongdan won the second “TAG·New Contemporary” Tidal Wave Awards at the TAG Art Museum in 2024.

Can you tell us about your background and how you started your artistic journey?

I was born in Guangzhou and entered CAFA’s Affiliated High School as a teen before joining its Oil Painting Department. My artistic roots go back to childhood—I’d pencil-sketch female characters, inventing backstories for them. That obsession with human narratives still drives
me today.

How do you stay inspired and motivated to create new work?

Artistic creation requires time to simmer—allowing space for reflection and critical judgment. Simultaneously, it demands continuous practice. New ideas often emerge through the very act of making.

How has your artistic style evolved over time?

In my early work, I relied entirely on imagination. Later, I began role-playing the personas I wished to portray, using digital tools to craft backgrounds and environments that achieved my desired impact. Thus, my current paintings feel more grounded in reality.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being creative in your experience?

Discovering myself—recognizing what I excel at, pursuing what I genuinely wish to do, and earning validation and a sense of fulfilment through it.

What challenges have you faced as an artist, and how have you overcome them?

My greatest challenge lies within painting itself: daring to make radical transformations, breaking through creative barriers, and questioning why change is necessary. These are the real challenges.

How do you hope your art evolves in the next five years?

I aim to focus on the authentic lives and mental states of my generational peers within contemporary realities. Building upon rigorous academic training, I will employ realist techniques fused with highly distinctive perspectives to articulate multidimensional reflections on daily life and social relationships from the viewpoint of modern women.

Text & photo courtesy of Ding Hongdan

Website: https://dinghongdan.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dinghongdan.1216/