Dongbay (Yübo Xü) is an artist and designer
based primarily in Beijing and Shanghai, China.
Born in a small industrial town in the northeast
region of the country, his early experiences of
moving frequently with his family shaped his view of
the world and his relationship with the land. This
fluidity in his connection to place led him to
embrace a nomadic lifestyle, guided by the research
and exploration that inform his creative work.
He earned a BS in Applied Chemistry from the
Beijing Institute of Technology before transitioning
to a Master’s degree in Visual Arts from the Pratt
Institute in New York. This diverse educational
background blends scientific inquiry with artistic
expression, equipping him with a unique approach
to analysis, experimentation, and aesthetics.
Dongbay’s creative process involves immersive
research and fieldwork, often leading him to spend
significant time in the environments and
communities he studies.
Dongbay’s body of work spans multiple forms,
including non-fiction writing, installations, paintings,
and films, with a particular focus on visual and
tactile elements. Central to his practice is an
exploration of the relationship between humans and
nature. His art and lifestyle both embody the
concept of the eco-warrior, where he strives to
integrate modern civilization’s advancements with
an ongoing connection to the earth's most direct
and essential truths.
Through his work, Dongbay emphasizes humanity's
responsibility to restore balance between civilization
and nature. He challenges viewers to reconsider the
consequences of industrialized existence and to
engage in a more conscious relationship with the
natural world. His art serves as both a call to action
and a reflection on the need to maintain harmony
between progress and the earth's essential,
primitive truths.
Educations
2020 MFA, Pratt Institute, New York, USA
2017 BS, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing, China
Media & Publications
2025 Edge Effects, Article Published, USA
2024 CarharttWIP, Online Interview, China
2023 Umay Art Project, Artist Talk, 798 Cube, Beijing, China
2022 4 Crimes To Individuation, Book Published, China
2021 Good Night Press, Online Interview, China
Exhibitions
2024 NIKE Jaya Center, Shanghai, China
Group Exhibition
2024 ALL Space, Shanghai, China
Group Exhibition, On The List
2024 K66 Art Space, Shanghai, China
Group Exhibition, Resample
2023 Parkview Green Art Center, Beijing, China
Group Exhibition, Traceable
2023 798 CUBE, Beijing, China
Group Exhibition, De wereld Wat Met Handvat getembi lk?
2023 Baimiao Center, Beijing, China
Group Exhibition, The Trip Of A Skin
2022 Boomer Gallery, London, UK
Group Exhibition, Vogue | 5th Edition
2021 Streams Gallery, Hong Kong
Group Exhibition, Write 4 Fun
2018 Tabula Rasa Gallery, Beijing, China
Group Exhibition, Aberrant Decoding
