Contemporary artist Zhang Peili will debut his solo exhibition "The Remaining Poeticac" at the Sea World Culture and Arts Center, presenting 17 selected multimedia works that trace his exploration of video art, installation and new technologies over the past two decades.
The exhibition, which includes six new pieces, offers a retrospective journey through the artist's evolving practice—from early video works characterized by detached observation to recent interactive installations incorporating artificial intelligence. Through this progression, the exhibition illuminates Zhang's ongoing inquiry into how technology mediates human experience, prompting viewers to consider where traces of humanity persist in an era when technology has become inseparable from daily life.
Zhang graduated from the Zhejiang Academy of Art (now China Academy of Art) in 1984 with a degree in oil painting. His 1988 work "30 x 30"—a 180-minute video documenting the repetitive act of smashing and gluing a mirror—stands as one of the earliest examples of video art in China. Throughout his career, Zhang has transformed everyday objects and mundane moments into vehicles for philosophical reflection, using absurdist presentations to examine technology's impact on individuals and the invisible forces of social conditioning.
Zhang's works have been featured at institutions including the Venice Biennale, New York's Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) and the Art Institute of Chicago, helping to establish a global presence for Chinese contemporary art.
Dates: From March 23 to July 21
Venue: Sea World Culture and Arts Center, Nanshan District (海上世界文化艺术中心)
Metro: Line 2 or 12 to Sea World Station (海上世界站), Exit A
