Ding Yi is presently deemed one of the most influential abstract artists in China. He has worked in a wide range of genres from painting and sculpture to spatial installation and architecture. He represents social, ideological expectations through artistic endeavors against social chaos through the repetitive use of signs such as + and x. His use of pared-down composition, diverse materials, and colors are influenced by the atmosphere of his home, Shanghai.
Born in Shanghai, China, Ding Yi studied art at the Shanghai Arts & Crafts Institute in 1983 and graduated from the fine arts department of Shanghai University in 1990. He participated in biennales and triennales more than ten times including the Venice Biennale, the Shanghai Biennale, and the Yokohama Triennale, holding more than 28 solo shows not only in China but also in the UK, Germany, Switzerland, and France.