John Seed interviews painter Liu Xiadong whose work is on view in two concurrent exhibitions: Liu Xiaodong In Between Israel and Palestine at Mary Boone Gallery, New York (through October 26) and Liu Xiaodong: Hometown Boy at the Seattle Asian Art Museum (through June 29).

Xiadong comments: "I really like going to places that are in chaos or in a not entirely functional/developed state. I think that these places can more really show people's true attitudes, their lives and the environments in which they exist. I see it as an opportunity to break through these circumstances and in a very honestly manner explore their realities. These troubled environments also give me the power to breakthrough my own preconceptions and perspectives of painting through which I can express my own desires."