Cao Xihui’s application of realistic water droplets is prominent and significant throughout his works. Each water droplets are pseudo magnifiers, engaging voyeuristic opportunity to peer into humans most vulnerable and innate form, this juxtaposition of human form or objects and fluid quality of water droplets also translates a sense of impermanence and diversity of individual human characteristics.

Cao Xihui unique ways of presentation reveal the questions of the existence of good and bad, happiness and sadness. Using the visual as a narrative for his ideology, his works are marked by two distinctive subject elements: water flow on glass and human thoughts and expression. Instead of pursuing a conventional aesthetic of the beauty of human, the subjects seem to be hidden behind the water flowing glass; which creates a visual effect that distort, reflect and refract the subject matter. Seems like living in the virtual space, separated by a thin layer of glass which is not clear on which side of the glass, creates an imaginary space that allow viewers to interpret. His works explore into the innermost depth of human being including himself, realizing that the original purity of human being has increasingly been blurred and people are more uncertain and unclear about themselves. Isn’t it that everyone is trying to find their true self?

Born 1980 in Liaoning, Dalian, Xihui Cao’s work provides its own perspective on modern society. Using the visual as a narrative for his ideology, his works are marked by two distinctive subject elements: water flow on glass and human thoughts and expression. His works explore the innermost depth of human purity in this day and age, and are also a form of self-exploration. The water symbolizes cleanliness on a spiritual level, nature and its importance to humans, and the circle of life.