MAXXI Artistic Director Hou Hanru Remembers Chinese Video Artist Huang Xiaopeng
On October 6, 2020, the unexpected passing of Huang Xiaopeng, a notable Chinese artist specializing in video and installation, was confirmed by Hou Hanru, the artistic director of MAXXI in Rome. Xiaopeng, born in 1960, had resided in various cities, including Shantou, Guangzhou, Hong Kong, London, and Berlin. His artistic endeavors revolved around linguistic and cultural translation, famously declaring, "Art is a problem." He reinterpreted "Far East" as "Fa-Yi-Si-Te" and "Far West" as "Fa-Wei-Si-Te," utilizing materials such as rock 'n' roll music video tapes and Google Translate. Prior to his death, he was in the process of curating an exhibition named '畏無所畏' (Fear, No Fear). His work was featured in 'The D-Tale' (2018) and he perceived the current era as a "post-colonial, global and AI-dominated 'age of absurdity.'"
Key facts
- Huang Xiaopeng died on October 6, 2020.
- He was a Chinese video and installation artist born in 1960.
- Hou Hanru, artistic director of MAXXI, Rome, authored the remembrance.
- Xiaopeng lived in Shantou, Guangzhou, Hong Kong, London, and Berlin.
- His artistic philosophy centered on translation and the idea that 'Art is a problem.'
- He used materials like rock 'n' roll videos and Google Translate in his work.
- He was curating an exhibition in Berlin titled 'Fear, No Fear' (畏無所畏) before his death.
- His work was published in 'The D-Tale, Video Art from the Pearl River Delta' (Sternberg Press, 2018).
Entities
Artists
- Huang Xiaopeng
- Hou Hanru
Institutions
- MAXXI
- Times Art Center Berlin
- Sternberg Press
Locations
- Rome
- Italy
- Shantou
- Guangzhou
- Hong Kong
- China
- London
- United Kingdom
- Berlin
- Germany