Zhenchen Liu's Shamanic Art Blends Digital and Herbal at Icicle Paris

The Icicle cultural space on Avenue George V in Paris is hosting a free exhibition of works by Chinese artist Zhenchen Liu, on view until October 5, 2026. Curated by Myriam Kryger, the show titled 'Là où tout croît' presents two contrasting series: 'Kaléidoscope', computer-generated circular compositions on lenticular supports that shift with the viewer's angle, and 'Panacea', which uses ground medicinal plants, minerals, and mushrooms—some hallucinogenic—printed on pure cotton paper. Liu, born in Shanghai in 1976, trained at the Beaux-Arts in Shanghai, Villa Arson in Nice, and Le Fresnoy in Tourcoing, and splits his time between Hamburg, China, and Paris. His works have been shown at the Palais de Tokyo, MAXXI Rome, and Reina Sofía Museum, with films awarded at festivals from Locarno to Tokyo. The artist embraces unpredictability, stating, 'I like the unexpected, whether good or bad,' and notes that he often controls only a small part of the creative process. The exhibition is part of Icicle's artistic programming since 2019, which has featured various artists in the high-end fashion brand's space.