Chinese artist Chen Shaoxiong dies at 54, leaving legacy of collaborative practice and international exhibitions

Chen Shaoxiong, who was born in 1962 in Shantou, Guangdong, died at the age of 54. He began his artistic journey by studying ink art, later expanding into performance and collaborative works. In the 1990s, he helped establish the Big Tail Elephants artist group, which gained fame for its underground exhibitions in China that eventually reached an international audience. Alongside Tsuyoshi Ozawa from Japan and Korea's Gim Hongsok, he co-founded Xijing Men, creating a unique way to communicate through sketches and Chinese characters. His final interview appears in the autumn edition of ArtReview Asia. His art has been displayed at prestigious places like MoMA PS1, the International Center of Photography, and Tate Liverpool, with works in collections at M+ and MoMA.