Zhang Dali

Zhang Dali (born 1963, in Harbin, China) is an artist based in Beijing.

Zhang Dali
Chinese: 张大力
Born
Heilongjiang, China
NationalityChinese
This is a Chinese name; the family name is Zhang.

Zhang trained at the Central Academy of Fine Arts and Design. After studying painting in China, he went to Italy, where he discovered graffiti art. He was the only graffiti artist in Beijing throughout the early 1990s, and is the first artist since Keith Haring and Jackson Pollock to be given the cover of Time magazine.

Biography

From 1995 to 1998 he spray-painted over 2000 giant profiles of his own bald head on buildings throughout Beijing, placing the images alongside chāi (拆) characters painted by the city authorities to indicate that a building is scheduled for demolition.[1] The appearance of these images became the subject of media debate in Beijing in 1998.[2]

He has shown work internationally in many exhibitions including the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York, International Center for Photography in New York City, Les Rencontres d'Arles festival in France (2010), 18Gallery in Shanghai, Magda Danysz Gallery in Paris, Courtyard Gallery in Beijing, Institute of Contemporary Arts in London, Kunstnernes Hus in Oslo, the 2006 Gwangju Biennale in Korea and Pékin Fine Arts in Beijing. He is represented by Pékin Fine Arts in Beijing, Kiang Gallery in Atlanta, Klein Sun Gallery in New York City and Base Gallery in Tokyo.

Zhang Dali has portrayed 100 immigrant workers in life-size resin sculptures of various postures, with a designated number, the artist's signature and the work's title "Chinese Offspring" tattooed onto each of their bodies. They are often hung upside down, indicating the uncertainty of their life and their powerlessness in changing their own fates. Zhang Dali's work actively engages with the rapidly changing environment in China. Zhang started working in portraiture as one of Beijing's first graffiti artists, spraying and carving heads into the walls of the hundreds of buildings scheduled for destruction. Working across a wide variety of media - from urban art, to archiving photographs of Mao, and large scale installations - Zhang's portraits document a contemporary social history of a culture in radical development and flux. Chinese Offspring is one of Zhang's best known works. Consisting of 15 cast resin figures suspended from the ceiling, each sculpture is a representation of a migrant construction worker, a vast underclass who contribute to the modernisation process at it most visible level. Since 2003, Zhang has made 100 of these effigies in tribute to their unsung heroism. Zhang's work not only champions the individual plights of these transient labourers, but also records one of the most important phenomena of new Chinese order: the growing schism between poverty and wealth. Zhang's figures are hung by their feet to denote their vulnerability and economic entrapment. Each bears a unique tattoo issuing them with an edition number, the Chinese Offspring project title, and the artist's signature of authentication - a normal practice in indexing art construed as a witty commentary on social engineering and population control.

Exhibition History

Solo Exhibitions
2014 "Square," Klein Sun Gallery, New York, NY[3]
2013 “Second History,” Luxun Academy of Fine Arts Museum, Shenyang, China
2012 “Zhang Dali Retrospective,” Klein Sun Gallery, New York, NY[3]
2011 “World’s Shadows,” Pékin Fine Arts, Beijing, China
2011 “Demolition: Second History,” The Charles Shain Library, Connecticut College, New London, CT
2011 “New Slogan,” Klein Sun Gallery, New York, NY[3]
2010 “Extreme Reality,” Tank Loft, Chongqing Contemporary Art Center, Chonqing, China
2010 “Zhang Dali: A Second History,” Guangdong Museum of Art, Guangzhou, China
2010 “Zhang Dali Solo Show,” Magda Danysz / Bund 18 Gallery, Shanghai, China
2009 “Pervasion: Works by Zhang Dali (1995-2008),” He Xiangning Art Museum, Shenzhen, China
2009 “Il Sogno Proibito della Nuova Cina,” Palazzo Inghilterra, Turin, Italy
2008 “Slogans,” Kiang Gallery, Atlanta, GA
2008 “The Road to Freedom,” Red Star Gallery, Beijing, China
2007 “Chinese Offspring,” Chinese Contemporary Gallery, New York, NY
2006 “Zhang Dali: Image and Revision in New Chinese Photography,” Janet Wallace Fine Arts Center, Macalester College, St. Paul, MN
2006 “A Second History,” Ferst Center for the Arts, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA
2006 “Zhang Dali: A Second History,” Walsh Gallery, Chicago, IL
2005 “Sublimation,” Beijing Commune Gallery, Beijing, China
2005 “New Works by Zhang Dali,” Chinese Contemporary Gallery, London, UK
2003 “AK-47,” Galleria Il Traghetto, Venice, Italy
2003 “AK-47,” Galleria Gariboldi, Milan, Italy
2002 “Beijing’s Face,” Base Gallery, Tokyo, Japan
2002 “Headlines,” Chinese Contemporary Gallery, London, UK
2000 “AK-47,” The Courtyard Gallery, Beijing, China
1999 “Dialogue,” Chinese Contemporary Gallery, London, UK
1999 “Dialogue and Demolition,” The Courtyard Gallery, Beijing, China
1994 “Rivoluzione e Violenza,” Galleria Studio 5, Bologna, Italy
1993 “Zhang Dali: Pitture a Inchiostro,” Galleria Studio 5, Bologna, Italy
1989 “Wash Painting Exhibition by Zhang Dali,” Central Academy of Fine Arts Museum, Beijing, China

Selected Group Exhibitions

2013
  • “FUCK OFF 2,” The Groniger Museum, Groningen, The Netherlands
  • “Voice of the Unseen: Chinese Independent Art 1797/Today,” Arsenale Nord, Venice, Italy
  • “The Nature of Things”, Gallery Magda Danysz Shanghai, China
  • “Hot Pot: A Taste of Contemporary Chinese Art,” Brattleboro Museum and Art Center, Brattleboro, VT
  • “RE-INK: Invitational Exhibition of Contemporary Ink Wash Painting 2000 – 2012,” Hubei Museum of Art, Wuhan, Hubei, China; Today Art Museum, Beijing, China
  • "Individual Growth - Momentum of Contemporary Art," Tianjin Art Museum, Tianjin, China
  • “Incarnations,” Institut Confucius des Pays de la Loire d’Angers, Angers, France
  • "Aure and Post Aura," The First Beijing Photography Biennale, China Millennium Monument, Beijing, China
  • "World's Shadows," Photo Phnom Penh 2013, Royal University of Phnom Penh, Phnom Penh, Cambodia
  • “Spectacle Reconstruction – Chinese Contemporary Art,” MODEM, Debrecen, Hungary

2012
  • "OMEN 2012 - Chinese New Art," Shanghai Art Museum (Meishuguan), Shanghai, China
  • “Raze,” Peking Fine Arts, Beijing, China
  • “Faking It: Manipulating Photography Before Photoshop,” The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
  • “The Unseen,” The 4th Guangzhou Triennial, Guangdong Museum of Art, Guangzhou, China
  • “Body Double: The Figure in Contemporary Sculpture,” The Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park, Grand Rapids, MI

2011
  • “Start from the Horizon: Chinese Contemporary Sculpture Since 1978,” Sishang Art Museum, Beijing, China
  • "Guanxi: Contemporary Chinese Art,” Today Art Museum, Beijing, China; Guangdong Museum of Art, Guangzhou, China
  • “New Photography 2011,” The Museum of Modern Art, New York, NY
  • “Speech Matters,” The 54th International Art Exhibition of the Venice Biennale, Venice, Italy
  • “Scenes from Within: Contemporary Art from China," Blackbridge Hall Gallery, Georgia College, Milledgeville, GA
  • “Black and White,” Zero Art Museum, Beijing, China
  • “The Life and Death of Buildings,” Princeton University Art Museum, Princeton, NJ
  • “Relationship,” Guangdong Museum of Art, Guangzhou, China
  • “Self Camera,” Changwon Asia Art Festival, Seongsan Art Hall, Changwon, South Korea
  • “The Evolving Art,” Academy of Arts & Design at Tsinghua University, Beijing, China

2010
  • “Is the World Real?” 6th Lianzhou International Photo Festival, Lianzhou, China
  • “The Original Copy: Photography of a Sculpture, 1839 to Today,” The Museum of Modern Art, New York, NY
  • “Exhibition Exhibition,” Castello di Rivoli Museo di Arte Contemporanea, Turin, Italy
  • “Four Dimensions,” Hong Kong Photo Festival, Hong Kong
  • “Zhang Dali: A Second History,” 41st Edition of Les Recontres d’Arles,” Espace Van Gogh, Arles, France
  • “A Decade-Long Exposure,” Central Academy of Fine Arts Museum, Beijing, China
  • “Dimensionality,” Red Star Gallery, Beijing, China
  • “Great Performance,” Pace Beijing, Beijing, China
  • “Ame de Chine,” Magda Danysz Gallery, Paris, France
  • “From New York to Beijing: Graffiti - Blogging in the Street - Blade and Zhang Dali,” C-Space, Beijing, China
  • “Re-Visioning History,” OV Gallery, Shanghai, China
  • “Reshaping History - Chinart from 2000-2009,” National Conference Center, Beijing, China
  • “China’s Soul,” Magda Danysz Gallery, Paris, France

2009
  • “Chasing Flames,” Klein Sun Gallery, New York, NY[3]
  • "Quadrilogy: Conflicting Tales: Subjectivity," DAAD Gallery, Berlin, Germany
  • "Calligraffiti: ‘Writing’ in Contemporary Chinese and Chicano Art," Pacific Asia Museum, Pasadena, CA
  • “Re-imaging Asia,” The New Art Gallery, Walsall, UK
  • “Stairway to Heaven: From Chinese Streets to Monuments and Skyscrapers,” Kansas City Art Institute, Kansas City, MO
  • “Chinese Prints,” Pace Prints, New York, NY
  • “The Very Condition,” Wall Art Museum, Beijing, China
  • “Images from History,” Shenzhen Art Museum, Shenzhen, China
  • “Collision,” Central Academy of Fine Arts Museum, Beijing, China
  • “Transforming Traditions,” Victoria H. Myhren Gallery, University of Denver, Denver, CO
  • “From Style Writing to Art – Street Art Group Show,” 18 Gallery, Shanghai, China

2008
  • “Stairway to Heaven: From Chinese Streets to Monuments and Skyscrapers,” Bates College Museum of Art, Lewiston, ME
  • “Five Years of Duolun,” Shanghai Duolun Museum of Modern Art, Shanghai, China
  • “The Revolution Continues: New Art From China,” Saatchi Museum, London, UK
  • “Logan Collection,” San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, San Francisco, CA
  • “China Gold,” Musee Maillol, Paris, France
  • “Zhang Dali and Shen Shaomin,” Klein Sun Gallery, New York, NY[3]
  • “The Avant-Garde in the ‘80s and ‘90s of the Last Century in China,” Groningen Museum, Groningen, The Netherlands
  • “Guang Hua Road,” Michael Schultz Gallery, Beijing, China

“Exquisite Corpse: China Surreal,” M97 Gallery, Shanghai, China

  • “Go China!” Groninger Museum, Groninger, The Netherlands
  • “Re-Imagining Asia: Asian Coordinates,” House of World Cultures, Berlin, Germany

2007
  • “All of our Tomorrows: The Culture of Camouflage,” Kunstraum der Universität, Lünenburg, Germany
  • “Unexpected: Out of Control,” Ku Art Center, Beijing, China
  • “China Now,” Cobra Museum of Modern Art, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
  • “Red Hot,” Houston Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, TX
  • “Three Unitary,” DDM, Shanghai, China
  • “La Cina è vicina,” Mediterranea Gallery, Palermo, Italy
  • “Past Forward,” Oriental Vista Art Collections, Shanghai, China

2006
  • “Radar: Selections from the Collection of Kent and Vicki Logan,” Denver Art Museum, Denver, CO
  • “China Now,” Essl Museum, Vienna, Austria
  • “Fever Variations,” 6th Gwangju Biennale, Gwangju, South Korea
  • “Red Star,” 798 Factory Red Star Gallery, Beijing, China
  • “Great Performance,” Max Protetch, New York, NY

2005
  • “Wall,” Millennium Museum, Beijing, China
  • “Mayfly,” Beijing Commune Gallery, Beijing, China
  • “The Game of Realism,” Beijing Commune Gallery, Beijing, China
  • “Chinese Contemporary Sculpture Exhibition,” Museum Beelden aan Zee, Scheveningen, The Netherlands

2004
  • “Between Past and Future: New Photography and Video from China,” International Center of Photography, New York, NY
  • “Between Past and Future: New Photography and Video from China,” Asia Society, New York, NY
  • “Between Past and Future: New Photography and Video from China,” Smart Museum of Art, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL
  • “Between Past and Future: New Photography and Video from China,” Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago, IL
  • “Between Past and Future: New Photography and Video from China,” Victoria & Albert Museum, London, UK
  • “Between Past and Future: New Photography and Video from China,” Seattle Art Museum, Seattle, WA
  • “Between Past and Future: New Photography and Video from China,” Haus der Kulturen der Welt, Berlin, Germany
  • “Between Past and Future: New Photography and Video from China,” Santa Barbara Museum of Art, Santa Barbara, CA
  • “Between Past and Future: New Photography and Video from China,” The Nasher Museum of Art at Duke University, Durham, NC
  • “Critical Mass,” Chinese Contemporary Gallery, Beijing, China
  • “Me! Me! Me!” The Courtyard Gallery, Beijing, China

2003
  • “The Logan Collection,” Denver Art Museum, Denver, CO
  • “China-Germany Art,” Factory 798, Beijing, China
  • “Festival Internazionale di Roma,” L'Officina-Arte del Borghetto, Rome, Italy

2002
  • “New Photography from China,” The Courtyard Gallery, Beijing, China
  • 1st Guangzhou Triennial, Guangdong Museum of Art, Guangzhou, China

International Photography Festival, Pingyao, China

2001
  • “Courtyard Gallery August Group Show,” The Courtyard Gallery, Beijing, China
  • “China Art Now,” Singapore Art Museum, Singapore
  • “Contemporary Chinese Photography,” Oulu Art Museum, Oulu, Finland
  • “Contemporary Chinese Photography,” Finland Museum of Photography, Helsinki, Finland
  • “Hot Pot,” Kunstnernes, Oslo, Norway

2000
  • “Fuck Off,” Eastlink Gallery, Shanghai, China
  • “Artistes Contemporains Chinois,” Musee des Tapisseries, Aix-en-Provence, France
  • “Thought Brand Meat Mincer,” Dongsi 8 Tiao Performance, Beijing, China
  • “Food as Art,” Club Vogue, Beijing, China
  • “Serendipity,” The Japan Foundation Asia Center, Tokyo, Japan

1999
  • “Transparence Opacite?” Valle d’Aosta, Italy
  • “Food for Thought,” Eindhoven, The Netherlands
  • “Beijing in London,” ICA, London, UK
  • “HSIN: a visible spirit,” Cypress College & BC Space Gallery, Cypress, CA
  • “The World Is Yours!” Design Museum Performance, Beijing, China
  • “Unveiled Reality-Chinese Contemporary Photography,” Chulalongkom University Museum, Bangkok, Thailand
  • “Chinese Contemporary Photography,” Bard College, Red Hook, NY

1998
  • “Chinese Artists Group Show,” Chinese Contemporary Gallery, London, UK
  • “Chinese Contemporary Photography,” Lehman College, New York, NY

11th Tallinn Triennial, Tallinn, Estonia

  • “Urbanity,” Wang Shou Temple Art Museum, Beijing, China

1997
  • “W ²+ Z ²- Multi-media and video Exhibition,” Gallery of the National Academy of Fine Arts, Beijing, China

1995
  • “La Formazione della Terra,” Goethe Institute Gallery, Turin, Italy

1993
  • “Arte Deperibile,” Spazio Cultura Navile, Bologna, Italy
  • “Zona Internazionale,” Neon Gallery, Bologna, Italy

1992
  • “Collettiva Di Artisti Cinesi,” Il Sigillo Gallery, Padova, Italy

1991
  • “Pittura su Carta,” Galleria Communale, Ferrara, Italy

1989
  • “Wash Painting Salon in Peking,” Capital Museum, Beijing, China

1987
  • “Three Men Show,” Sun Yat Sen Park, Beijing, China
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References
  1. Anne-Marie Broudehoux, The Making and Selling of Post-Mao Beijing, Routledge, 2004, pp221-2. ISBN 0-415-32057-7
  2. Wu Hung in Carol Appadurai Breckenridge, Cosmopolitanism, Duke University Press, 2002, p189. ISBN 0-8223-2899-2
  3. Klein Sun Gallery, New York, NY

Bibliography
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