Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is an ink print by Xu Bing. It dates from 1995 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.
About this work
Overview
It presents a sequence of identical high-heeled shoes breaking through a series of white-lined panels against a solid black ground.
Created in 1995, this woodcut by Xu Bing is a vertical, elongated print held in The Museum of Modern Art’s collection. It presents a sequence of identical high-heeled shoes breaking through a series of white-lined panels against a solid black ground. Each panel is marked above with a white Chinese character, forming a continuous phrase when read left to right. The work merges printmaking tradition with conceptual language, using repetition to suggest motion and disruption.
Subject & Meaning
The recurring shoe symbolizes persistent force, advancing through barriers that appear both physical and cultural. The Chinese characters, when read together, form a phrase that critiques societal structures or linguistic constraints. The shoe’s motion implies resistance or progress, while the rigid panels evoke institutional boundaries. The work invites reflection on how language and power intersect, particularly in contexts of control and expression.
Technique & Style
Executed as a woodcut, the image relies on the medium’s inherent contrast: deep black ink against the uninked paper. The artist carved the shoe motif and panel lines into a wood block, printing each repetition with precision. The white characters are left as negative space, contrasting sharply with the inked background. The uniformity of the shoe and the grid-like panels emphasize mechanical repetition, reinforcing the work’s conceptual rigor.
History & Provenance
Xu Bing produced this piece in 1995 during a period of intense exploration into language and cultural translation. It entered The Museum of Modern Art’s collection shortly after its creation, recognized for its innovative use of traditional printmaking to address contemporary themes. The work has been exhibited internationally in contexts focused on Chinese contemporary art and the politics of communication.
Context
Made during a time of rapid globalization and cultural redefinition in China, the piece reflects Xu Bing’s broader interest in the instability of meaning. His prior work with invented characters and linguistic deconstruction informs this piece, where the shoe’s motion parallels the disruption of fixed systems. The woodcut form connects to historical Chinese printing practices, recontextualized to question modern authority and perception.
Legacy
This woodcut remains a key example of how traditional techniques can be repurposed for critical discourse. It influenced later artists working at the intersection of language, print, and political symbolism. Xu Bing’s use of the shoe as a metaphor for agency, combined with the structural rigidity of the panels, continues to be referenced in discussions about resistance, mobility, and the limits of written language.
Artist & collection
Artist
Xu Bing is a Chinese artist who served as vice-president of the Central Academy of Fine Arts.
