Name
Colorful Chimneys by STQ
Description
“This work records the time of early 2020, during which there was a mix of bitterness and sweetness. Everyone was forced to stay at home or in a fixed place, and no one knew what it was like outside, but it seemed like no one was curious. However, for me, being forced to stay in a studio was a happy thing, like a diamond shining alone.”
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# Joe Weiss [STQ]
Visual artist Joe Weiss AKA STQ serves up symbolism the same way an MC lays down a clever metaphor: with flourish, style, and a little bit of attitude. As an artist raised in post-90s China, he can’t seem to help himself. Born amidst rapid urbanization, his art bursts with the fast-paced, media-saturated energy of his upbringing, resulting in pieces that are as dynamic as they are deep.
Drawing from the rich cultural reservoir of his hometown of Xi’an, an ancient city, STQ’s art often features cultural symbols such as carousels, Trojan Horses, and Terracotta warriors, and more. Like chapters unfolding in a novel or hooks on a track, these recurring motifs appear and reappear across his body of work, reflecting the dreams and dilemmas of his generation, and serve as a visual reminder of how the rhythms of history keep popping up in the present. In this sense, the work of STQ is widely praised as being both deeply personal while resonating in a universal sense.
Following his graduation from the Xi’an Academy of Fine Arts in 2013, STQ rapidly distinguished himself from his cohort with his impressive output and dedication to experimentation. Since then, he has displayed prolifically throughout China and recently, in Europe, where his art is widely exhibited and collected by major galleries and museums.
Instagram: [@Stair.q](https://www.instagram.com/Stair.q)