Zhang Xiaoli

1989, Guiyang, Guizhou, China

Introduction

Zhang Xiaoli was born in 1989 in Guizhou, China. She received the Ms. Chu Lam Yiu Scholarship and moved to Hong Kong in 2008 to pursue higher education at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, where she received her BA with first honours in Fine Arts and Biology in 2014. During the graduation show, she received Y.S Hui Fine Arts Award and Wucius Wong Creative Ink Painting Award. She gained Master degree at the Central Academy of Fine Arts in 2021.

In her early series, Zhang’s works replaced elements in Chinese landscape painting – trees, mountains, rocks and figures – with depictions of Lego bricks, as a contemporary way to create dialogues with tradition. In the “Boxed Landscape” series, Zhang presented surreal landscapes inside small containers, using the traditional style of gongbi ink painting to depict memories and experiences. Her current series "Private Collection" is inspired by the concept of the Cabinets of Curiosities (Wunderkammer, 15-18th century), incorporating astronomy, physics, physiology, molecular biology, and even mathematical concepts. The small, boxed objects allow a window into the artist's imagination while expressing wisdom, poetry, and beauty.


Her recent important group exhibitions include Youth Will: Beijing Youth Art Biennale, Today Art Museum, Beijing, 2016 and Fresh Trend, Hong Kong City Hall, 2014. Her works have also been exhibited at several international art fairs including; Ink Asia 2017; Off Course Art Fair 2015, Brussels; and Fine Art Asia 2014, Hong Kong. Alisan included Zhang in the 2017 group exhibition Desiring: Post 97 Hong Kong Ink Art; the 2018 women's exhibition HOPE; the 2020 Uniquely Hong Kong; the 2021 Chinese Surrealism; and with sell-out success at Art 021 (2018,2019) and Art Basel HK (2019).

 

BIOGRAPHY
1989    Born Guiyang, Guizhou, China

2008    Moved to Hong Kong and studied at Chinese University of Hong Kong

2010    Exchange student at the University of California at Berkeley, USA

2014    Bachelor, First Honour, double major in Fine Arts and Biology, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong

2021    Master degree, Central Academy of Fine Arts, Beijing, China
Current Studying for a Ph.D., Central Academy of Fine Arts, Beijing, China


SELECTED SOLO EXHIBITIONS

2020      

  • Li Galaxy, Tong Gallery, Beijing, China

2019     

  • Curio Boxes: Zhang Xiaoli’s Portable Landscapes, Daguan Gallery, Taipei, Taiwan


SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS

2021     

2020      

2019      

2018            

2017      

2016      

  • Beijing Youth Art Biennial, Today Art Museum, Beijing, China
  • Affordable Art Fair, Metropolitan Pavilion, New York, USA

2015

  • 2+2, EC Gallery, Hong Kong                                                                             
  • OFF COURSE: Brussels Art Fair, Brussels, Belgium
  • Senses: Exhibition of Works by Young Emerging Hong Kong Artists, University Museum & Art Gallery, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong                  

2014      

  • Fresh Trend 2014, Hong Kong City Hall, Hong Kong                                                                  
  • Fine Art Asia, Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre, Hong Kong     
  • Graduation Show of Fine Arts Department, Art Museum of Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong               
  • Lone, Hui's Gallery, Hong Kong                                                                                                           

2013      

  • Our 1989, Taipei National University of Arts, Taipei, Taiwan

 

SELECTED AWARDS
2014    Y.S. Hui Fine Arts Award
Wucius Wong Creative Ink Painting Award
2013    Convocation Outstanding Creativity Student Award 2012/2013, Chinese University of Hong Kong
2008    Ms. Chu Lam Yiu Scholarship