Video
3 minutes
12 seconds
1998 XZ03
XU Zhen started out making videos that focused on the body and public space in a manner reminiscent of early Bruce Nauman or Vito Acconci: For example, the video “Rainbow” (1998) shows a person’s back growing increasingly red, the result of slaps heard on the sound track but never seen.
Video
4 minutes
1998 XZ05
In “Shouting” (1998), a moving crowd faces away from the camera until, startled by screams behind them, they spin around (a reaction that elicits laughs from whomever is behind the camera).
Video
8 minutes
32 seconds
1999 XZ08
In “From Inside the Body” (1999) viewers sit before three video monitors in a room outfitted with a single couch: The central screen shows the same couch, empty; the left-hand screen shows a man, and the right-hand screen, a woman. While the middle image remains static, the man and the woman begin to sniff the air, as if suddenly aware of an aroma. They smell themselves, stripping off their clothes to locate the source of this intoxicating scent. Finally, in their underwear, they walk off camera only to reappear together on the central screen, where they sit on the couch and start to sniff each other. During the course of the video piece, an aroma is released in the room, as if inviting viewers to mimic the actions on-screen.
Video
5 minutes
18 seconds
2000 XZ17
Xu Zhen made himself a rap singer and showing on the three screens at the same time. But audiences only heard his weak moaning of making love. With the comeing of climax, the audiences down the stage seems to become more and more excited screaming and while lacking of their appearance.
Video
3 minutes
23 seconds
2001 XZ19
XU Zhen is a talented artist often providing a new and unique outlook on simple and common states of human kind. His short film "We Are Right Back" does just that as it mocks and questions gender roles in modern society. As is common of XU Zhen the film is both subtle in humor and symbolism, though one might argue that the symbolism in this particular piece is more obvious. The film is set on a boat and the camera follows the swaying of the unsteady waters; we are made to see as if we are with them, XU does not allow us to separate ourselves from the societal rules he plans to demonstrate. One is aware of a couple but not of their faces, instead the audience is only provided with a view of the waist down. XU's humor is obvious as he utilizes the groins as subjects, replacing the faces one would generally recognize with only genital regions. Though one enjoys the subtly sexual humor, they are left to assume gender only with the aid of clothing and body type stereotypes. One becomes unavoidably anxious as the man begins to reach into the zipper of his pants. The man proceeds to pull out a cigarette, as if from a gender specific pocket. The cigarette is correspondingly lit by the woman as she removes a lighter from her groin pocket as well. The symbolism has become obvious. The woman is presented as providing the man with flame, inspiration, assistance, and even physical pleasure. The two continue to remove gender specific items from their respective groin pockets. The man an ash tray and cell phone, the woman makeup, and so on. Though XU presents common and easily understood stereotypes, he does so not so that we may simply observe but instead so that we may question the oversimplification of gender roles. These two humans have no identity, but only gender.
Richelle Simon in June 2013
Richelle Simon in June 2013
Video
8 minutes
11 seconds
2005 XZU062
In August 2005, XU Zhen together with his team climbed the 8848.13 meters high Mountain Everest. They succeed in cutting the hill top and took it down from the mountain. His video installation “8.848-1.86” (2005) documents an expedition to Mount Everest. Here, XU Zhen removed 1.86 meters of the mountain’s peak and transported it home to be exhibited in a large display cabinet. The video, among other allusions, is a subtle and humorous commentary on China’s policy of expansion.
Video
23 minutes
56 seconds
2006 XZU090
“18 Days” records a trip that the artist underwent with the goal of crossing the borders of China’s neighboring countries with remote controlled toy weapons.
Xu Zhen bought some remote control weapons. Then on the boundary line between China and neighbouring countries, he remote controlled these toy weapons entering into neighbouring countries. The documentary in this work recorded the whole course in 18 days.
Xu Zhen bought some remote control weapons. Then on the boundary line between China and neighbouring countries, he remote controlled these toy weapons entering into neighbouring countries. The documentary in this work recorded the whole course in 18 days.
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