The basic concept ofQ Confucius originated from a series of questions Zhang Huan pondered over: faced with rapid economic and societal changes and energy and climate challenges, how can we achieve sustainable development? What responsibilities come along with China’s rise in international importance? Where is the sense of spiritual belonging for contemporary Chinese?
These questions seem massive and unrelated, but actually they are inherently connected by inescapable bonds. The artist hopes to explore the inner structure of the questions through large sculptures, ash paintings and installation works tailored for this exhibition, providing a unique way of observation and thinking in the context of contemporary art. All the works of the artist are custom-made for the art museum’s space, and strive to correspond with the unique architectural environment and historical and cultural background of the Bund district. The exhibitions are not confined to the physical space of the museum, but are integrated within the surrounding neighborhood to promote direct communication and interaction with the audience, thereby carrying out the concept of “Museum without Walls: Art and Life”.
When his controversial show on the philosopher opened, Zhang Huan's caged, robotic Confucius was joined by nine live monkeys, intended as living metaphors for our base instincts. Confucius himself, who thrashes like a big scary undead fish out of water, is intended to "provoke public debate about societal issues in China, including rapid economic growth, unbalanced values, and environmental challenges."
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