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Chen Zhen's Posthumous CCC Exhibition Maps Five Continents Through Trans-Experience

exhibition · 2026-04-23

Chen Zhen, who was born in Shanghai in 1986, embraced Paris as his home but never held a significant solo exhibition in France while he was alive. A decade after his initial showcase at Magasin de Grenoble, he was commemorated by the CCC in Tours. Chen had been developing the project since 1999, and following his passing in December 2000, the programming persisted. The center's five spaces display installations that symbolize different continents: South America (Beyond the Vulnerability), North America (Prayer Wheel – Money Makes The Mare Go), Europe (Double Table – Côte à Côte), Africa (Couldn't Bananas Be Black? – Human Tower), and Asia (Social Investigation – Shanghai #1). The exhibition focused on 'Residence – Resonance – Resistance,' linking various socio-cultural narratives.

Key facts

  • Chen Zhen, born in Shanghai, adopted Paris in 1986.
  • No major French institution had given him a solo show during his lifetime.
  • The exhibition at CCC in Tours runs from June 15 to November 10, 2002.
  • Chen Zhen died in December 2000; the project was maintained.
  • Five installations represent five continents: South America, North America, Europe, Africa, Asia.
  • The concept of 'trans-experience' links diverse socio-cultural experiences.
  • Beyond the Vulnerability was created in Salvador de Bahia with street children.
  • Passages between continents were not built due to lack of sketches.
  • Double Table was previously shown at the 1997 Lyon Biennale.
  • The exhibition is curated by Évence Verdier.

Entities

Artists

  • Chen Zhen
  • Nari Ward

Institutions

  • CCC
  • Magasin de Grenoble
  • Biennale de Lyon

Locations

  • Shanghai
  • Paris
  • Tours
  • France
  • Salvador de Bahia
  • Brazil
  • Stockholm
  • Sweden

Sources