One of the most basic standards of art is whether it accurately and truthfully depicts and expresses, whether it is depicting the external world or expressing the inner self. Xia Jia'er has achieved accurate depiction of the inner self.
There are two directions in art, one pointing to the external world and one pointing to the inner self. Let me give an example from my limited literary reading, such as Kafka and Wang Xiaobo, one pointing inward and one pointing outward. But it's not absolute, this is just a tendency, many artists have both internal and external cultivation. As a side note, another comparison between the two is that Kafka is gentle and Wang Xiaobo is masculine. Perhaps some people think it is inappropriate to compare Wang Xiaobo with Kafka, but because I have read too few authors, I cannot give other representative examples.
One direction of modern art since the modern era is to point to the inner self. Expressing the inner self is not superficial, it is not just depicting inner activities. Sometimes, even though the description is about the external world, it expresses the inner self. For example, Kafka's novels do not directly talk about loneliness, despair, oppression, etc., but through the description of the external world, it clearly makes people feel the aforementioned mental states.
The following statements explain Kafka and Xia Jia'er's artistic creation concepts that point to the inner self.
A diary entry by Kafka:
I have a vast world in my mind. But how can I liberate myself and it without being shattered? I would rather be shattered a thousand times than leave it in or bury it in my heart. I exist in this world for this purpose, and I fully understand it.
Some words from Xia Jia'er:
Our inner world is real, perhaps more real than the outside world! My paintings are my memories, all are the unfolding of my inner world.
I don't like words like "fantasy" and "symbolism". In my inner world, everything is real, perhaps more real than the world we witness.
Many people say my paintings are poetic, fantastical, and wrong. In fact, on the contrary, my paintings are realistic.
Our inner world is real, perhaps even more real than the outside world. Calling everything illogical as fantasy, mythology, and bizarre is actually admitting that one doesn't understand nature.
If you let me create with my heart, then anything is possible. But if you ask me to create with my mind, then I will ultimately achieve nothing.
Picasso paints with his belly, I paint with my heart.