Ding Yi: The Road to Heaven

Lisson Gallery is pleased to present its first solo exhibition with renowned Chinese artist Ding Yi (b. 1962) entitled The Road to Heaven. Taking its name from a traditional Naxi Dongba long scroll painting used in ritual practices, the exhibition unveils a new body of work inspired by his extensive travels through the Yunnan region of Southwest China over the past two years. Celebrated for his iconic “+” and “x” motifs—symbols of structure and rationality—Ding Yi expands his visual language to explore cultural identity and spirituality. Drawing on traditions of the Naxi people and Dongba ritual symbolism, the exhibition features intricately carved basswood panels, mineral-pigmented canvases, and a series of works on traditional Dongba paper. A short film documenting his journey complements the installation, underscoring Ding Yi’s unique take on contemporary abstraction and cultural discourse.