Zhang Peili: The Remaining Poetic | SWCAC UNESCO Gallery

Zhang Peili — The Father of Chinese Video Art

Born in Hangzhou in 1957, Zhang Peili graduated from the Oil Painting Department of the Zhejiang Academy of Fine Arts (now China Academy of Art) in 1984. He is a pivotal figure in Chinese contemporary art history and widely regarded as the Father of Chinese Video Art — the first Chinese artist to use video as an artistic medium.

His work spans video, mechanical installations, imaging, performance art and more, influencing an entire generation of Chinese contemporary artists. His iconic piece 30x30, filmed with a fixed camera and no post-editing, is one of China's earliest discussed contemporary video works. He taught media art at the China Academy of Art, nurturing countless new media artists.

About The Remaining Poetic

From March 23 to July 21, 2026, the Sea World Culture & Arts Center (SWCAC) L2 UNESCO Gallery presents Zhang Peili's first large-scale solo exhibition in the Greater Bay Area, Zhang Peili: The Remaining Poetic, curated by Tao Hanchen.

The exhibition presents 17 iconic works spanning over 30 years of the artist's career, including 6 new pieces created for this exhibition. Through mechanical installations, video, multimedia interaction, and documentation, it offers both philosophical reflection and sensory experience.

Featured Works:

• Gas Tank Array — Industrial-era gas tanks gilded inside, forming a stunning array — the iconic symbol of industrial transformation
• A Day (一天) — 8-channel video installation, brand new work exploring ritual, absurdity, repetition, and futility
• Mechanical Arm Interactive Installation —循环压印又抹去沙盘上的俗语格言
• Multiple video and documentary works tracing 30 years of technological meditation

The Remaining Poetic — a meditation on memory, time, and the complex co-existence of humans and technology.

Info: 69-124 CNY | Mar 23 – Jul 21, 2026 | SWCAC L2 UNESCO Gallery | Mon–Fri 10:00–20:00, Sat–Sun 10:00–21:00