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, and is currently pursuing a Ph.D. at the same institution. Zhang Xiaoli received the Liu Kuo-Sung Ink Art Award in 2023.

In her iconic "Boxed Landscape”, Zhang 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. She presented surreal landscapes inside small containers, using the traditional style of gongbi ink painting to depict memories and experiences. It 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. For Zhang, these are the landscapes of the contemporary world.

Zhang has participated in nearly 30 exhibitions around the world including New York, London, Paris, Brussels, Beijing, Shanghai, Suzhou, Taipei, and Hong Kong. She had her major solo exhibition at Zhejiang Art Museum, Hangzhou, China in 2023 and group exhibitions include Youth Will: Beijing Youth Art Biennale, Today Art Museum, Beijing, 2016; Fresh Trend, Hong Kong City Hall, 2014. Alisan has been representing Zhang's works since 2017. We featured her paintings in Desiring: Post 97 Hong Kong Ink Art, 2017; women artists exhibition HOPE, 2018; Uniquely Hong Kong, 2020; Chinese Surrealism, French May Arts Festival Associated Project, and POP ROCK, both in 2021; group exhibition at Cromwell Place, London, 2022; Art 021 Shanghai, 2018 and 2019; Art Basel Hong Kong, 2019 and 2023. 

 

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

2023    Gave an artist talk Ink Alchemy at Alisan Fine Arts, Hong Kong

Present Studying for a Ph.D., Central Academy of Fine Arts, Beijing, China


SELECTED SOLO EXHIBITIONS

2023      

  • Zhang Xiaoli: Spectacular at the Tannhauser Gate, Zhejiang Art Museum, Hangzhou, China

2020      

  • Li Galaxy, Tong Gallery, Beijing, China

2019     

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


SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS

2024     

2023     

2022     

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
2023    Liu Kuo-Sung Ink Art Award, Ink Society, Hong Kong
2014    Y.S. Hui Fine Arts Award, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
Wucius Wong Creative Ink Painting Award, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
2013    Convocation Outstanding Creativity Student Award 2012/2013, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
2008    Ms. Chu Lam Yiu Scholarship