Xiaoze Xie's Porcelain Sculptures Preserve Banned Books
Artist Xiaoze Xie's exhibition 'In the Name of the Book' at Sapar Contemporary in New York features paintings and life-sized porcelain sculptures of banned books. The show includes works from the early 1990s to the present, reflecting on censorship and the role of books in cultural and political life. Xie, born in Guangdong at the start of the Cultural Revolution and a witness to the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests, moved to the U.S. in 1993. His 'Forbidden Books Series' focuses on texts banned during China's Qing Dynasty (1636-1912), such as 'The Golden Lotus' and 'Water Margin', as well as the play 'The Peony Pavilion', which was barred from a 1998 New York performance. Xie notes that countless books have disappeared in China over 2,000 years, and his porcelain works preserve their likeness as an act of defiance. The exhibition runs through April 17, 2026.
Key facts
- Xiaoze Xie's exhibition 'In the Name of the Book' is at Sapar Contemporary.
- The show includes paintings and life-sized porcelain sculptures from the 1990s to present.
- Xie was born in Guangdong during the Cultural Revolution.
- He witnessed the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests.
- He moved to the U.S. in 1993.
- The 'Forbidden Books Series' features texts banned during the Qing Dynasty (1636-1912).
- Works include 'The Golden Lotus', 'Water Margin', and 'The Peony Pavilion'.
- The Peony Pavilion was barred from a New York performance in 1998.
- The exhibition runs through April 17, 2026.
Entities
Artists
- Xiaoze Xie
Institutions
- Sapar Contemporary
- Colossal
- PEN International
Locations
- New York
- United States
- Guangdong
- China
- Shanghai