Olivia Jia

With ‘Untitled (desk)’, Jia aims to reveal part of the process of the creation of her works; it depicts an artist’s workspace. The background of the composition is dominated by a cutting board surface, on top of which sits some paper, a still-life reference photo, and a greyscale. However, the simplicity of this scene is complicated by what Jia describes as “a rift in the surface like a slice with a knife, a portal opening”. This central fissure reminds the viewer that Jia’s practice combines accurate, seemingly conventional still life with deliberately surreal and psychological elements.