Zhang Huan B. 1965

In Solo Exhibition:

1999   USA, New York, Max Protetch Gallery,  Zhang Huan, Works     From 1994-1998,

2000  Spain, Barcelona, Cotthem Gallery, Zhang Huan

            New Zealand, Wellington, Adam Gallery, Zhang Huan Survey

2001   Spain, Santiago de Compostela, Museo das Peregrinacions, Zhang Huan           

2002  Germany, Hamburg, Kunstverein in Hamburg, Zhang Huan

2003  Germany, Bochum, Bochum Museum, Zhang Huan

            Germany, Berlin, Galerie Volker Diehl, Zhang Huan 

            Danmark, Copenhagen, Nikolaj Copenhagen Contemporary Art Center, Zhang Huan

In Group Exhibition:

1997   Japan, Tokyo, Watari Museum, Chinese Contemporary Art 1997

1998   USA, Asia Society, New York PS1 Museum of Contemporary, Long Island City, and the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, Inside Out:New Chinese Art  

1999    France, Lauasnne, Culturgest, Lisbon, and Musee de Lelysee, The Century of the Body: Photoworks 1900-2000

             Italy, Venice, 48th La Biennale di Venezia

             USA, Chicago, The Smart Museum of Art, Transience:Chinese Art at the End of Twentieth Century

2000   USA, San Francisco, Yerba Buena Center of the Arts, On the Edge of the Western World  

           USA, Boston, Institute of Contemporary Art, Video via Venice

           USA, Nashville, Cheekwood, Six Signals:Video by Contemporary Artists  

2001   Italy, Siena, Center of Contemporary,The Gift

2002   USA, New York, Whitney Museum, 2002 Whitney Biennial       

            USA, New York, The Bronx Museum of Art, The Gift, Generous Offerings, Threatening Hospitality      

2003    Germany, Berlin, Academy of Arts, Rituals

             Spain, Madrid, Photo Espana 2003, International Photography Festival 

              Spain, Madird, Reina Sofia National Museum, Performance and Almost Performance

My creative inspirations come from the most unnoticeable and easily neglected actions and objects in our daily life, for example: eating, working, resting, and defecating.  Ordinary things allow us to experience human existence in its purest form and its conflicting force with the surrounding environment.  The creation of 12 Square Meters is the result of this conflict.

Zhang Huan

On June 2^nd 1994, Zhang Huan anointed his entire body with honey and visceral liquid from fish and sat in a public toilet in East Village until he was completely covered with flies.  In 12 Square Meters, Zhang Huan utilized his own body as the creative medium.  By subjecting his physical and mental tolerance to extreme conditions, he experienced a relationship between body and mind.  His images effectively express the senseless, absurd psychological state and the unbearable state of living reality.  The realization of this performance served as the foundation of his later mode of artistic expression and brought his works to international attention.