Peng Zuqiang's 'Sideways Looking' at Cell Project Space explores connectivity through moving-image installations

Peng Zuqiang, a Chinese artist, is showcasing his inaugural solo exhibition in Europe titled 'Sideways Looking' at Cell Project Space in London, which will be open until 19 June. This exhibition includes three moving-image installations that delve into themes of connection and absence. 'The Cyan Garden' (2022) juxtaposes a friend's Airbnb in Changsha with the former communist radio station 'Voice of the Malayan Revolution' in Hunan, reflecting on the legacy of the Communist Insurgency. The five-channel piece 'keep in touch' (2021) explores interconnectivity through tactile experiences, presenting various scenes of touch and familiarity. Lastly, 'Sight Leak' (2021) offers a reimagined view of Roland Barthes's 1974 memoirs about China from a tourist's standpoint in Changsha, tackling issues of belonging and outsiderness. The exhibition critiques the commercialization of revolutionary sites.