Huan, Zhang | Shanghai Family Tree, 2023 — available on Composition Gallery

Set of 9 Giclee prints on 310 gsm Exhibition Photo Baryta paper - 31 x 43 cm (12.2 x 16.9 in) each - Signed and numbered on a label affixed to the back

Shanghai Family Tree by Zhang Huan is a photographic series composed of nine giclée prints, each measuring 31 x 43 cm, on Exhibition Photo Baryta paper. Created in 2023, this work explores themes of identity and transformation. The artist uses his own face as a canvas, progressively covering it with Chinese calligraphy in each frame. The calligraphy, symbolizing personal and cultural history, becomes denser, almost obscuring facial features. This visual evolution reflects the interplay of individual identity with collective heritage and memory. The methodical arrangement of the images highlights the tension between clarity and obscurity, inviting viewers to contemplate how identity is shaped and overwritten by historical narratives.

Zhang Huan (China, 1965) is a Chinese artist known for his provocative performance art, photography, and sculpture. His early works often involved physical endurance, exploring themes of identity and spirituality. Notable pieces include '12 Square Meters' and 'To Add One Meter to an Anonymous Mountain.' Zhang's art challenges cultural norms and reflects on human existence.

Zhang Huan

Shanghai Family Tree, 2023

Name: Shanghai Family Tree, 2023
SKU: 14737

Form

Photography

PhotographyPhotography is the process of creating an image on light sensitive materials. The image is produced by using a camera, which has a lens that focuses on light either reflected or emitted from an object. These visible wavelengths are used to reproduce the image seen.

Medium

Giclée printing

Giclée printingGiclée printing is a digital technique for reproducing artwork using a high-resolution digital file and an inkjet printer with archival-quality inks. This process produces prints with exceptional color accuracy and detail, closely matching the original artwork.

Edition

Edition of 30

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Set of 9 Giclee prints on 310 gsm Exhibition Photo Baryta paper - 31 x 43 cm (12.2 x 16.9 in) each - Signed and numbered on a label affixed to the back

Zhang Huan

Shanghai Family Tree, 2023

Photography

Giclée printing

Currently Not Available

Zhang Huan

1/2, 1998

Limited Edition Print

Silkscreen

Currently Not Available

Sunshine, 1998

Photography

Sold

My artworks can be considered as a whole piece, through which are my outlooks on life and the world.
- Zhang Huan

Zhang Huan is a Chinese contemporary performance artist, sculptor and painter. Shortly after graduating from the China's Central Academy of Fine Art with a Master's Degree, Zhang Huan joined a small, artistic colony, which acted out performance art on the outskirts of Beijing. The type of performances Huan and his cronies put on involved masochistic, sometimes lewd motions, which got Zhang Huan in trouble with Chinese authorities. Undeterred, Zhang Huan continued to conduct performance art and eventually branched out into sculpture. His creations also focused on the body, but often featured the likeness of the Buddha. Some of Huan’s better-known sculptures include "Three Heads Six Arms," "Long Ear Ash Head" and "Sydney Buddha." Zhang Huan’s performance enactments typically have hidden messages centering on themes, such as challenging oppression, censorship and the dangers of undermining faith in communities. Huan's exhibitions have been featured in the United States, Europe and Asia. Zhang Huan was bestowed China's Robb Yearly Artist Award in 2010and France's Legion of Honor Award in 2014. (Artist website)

Artwork by Zhang Dali

What is Live Art?

Live art is a form of performance that began in the 1960s and is generally exploratory and innovative. It involves a single artist or an artist group presenting the work before a live audience. The performances can include humans, animals, and living plants, often blurring the boundaries between art and life, and encouraging interaction with the audience.

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Language & Currency

Zhang Huan