Qiong Zhang
Qiong Zhang is a poet and artist-researcher based in Helsinki, Finland. Currently a doctoral candidate at the Theatre Academy of Uniarts Helsinki, her research project explores how national identity might be constructed through individual and collective fantasies and imagination. She investigates the entanglement of surveillance, witchcraft, social imaginary, and technological ghosts in everyday lives through performative practices and writing.
Born and raised in a multi-ethnic area on the edge of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau in Gansu, China, Zhang's artistic practice intertwines performative gestures and choreographed images to reveal hidden political issues, dismantling ubiquitous surveillance and patriarchal narratives in various socio-cultural contexts.
Zhang initiated the performance artist collective Hijack打劫 in Shanghai (2016) and GA Physical Theatre in Dali (2015). She holds an MA in Performance Research from the University of Bristol (2014) and a BA in Chinese Literature from Peking University (2010). After receiving the Weiming Poetry Prize, one of the highest awards for young contemporary Chinese poets, in 2010, along with other prestigious awards in the Chinese contemporary poetry world, Zhang shifted her focus to performance art for greater challenge.
EDUCATION
2021- Doctoral studies of Artistic Research in Performing Arts,
University of Arts Helsinki, Finland
2014 MA in Performance Research,
University of Bristol, UK
2010 BA in Chinese Literature,
Peking University, Beijing, China
AWARDS & SCHOLARSHIPS
2024 Finnish Cultural Foundation Grant, Finland
2023 Tutke Production Grant, Theatre Academy, Uniarts Helsinki, Finland
2019 Performing Arts in the Digital Age Fellowship, Goethe-Institut Korea
2010 Weiming Poetry Prize, Peking University, China
2009 Qingxiang Literature Prize, Beijing Institute of Technology, China
2009 Sakura Poetry Competition Prize, Wuhan University, China
2009 Academic Committee Scholarship, Peking University, China
Qiong Zhang is a poet and artist-researcher based in Helsinki, Finland. Currently a doctoral candidate at the Theatre Academy of Uniarts Helsinki, her research project explores how national identity might be constructed through individual and collective fantasies and imagination. She investigates the entanglement of surveillance, witchcraft, social imaginary, and technological ghosts in everyday lives through performative practices and writing.
Born and raised in a multi-ethnic area on the edge of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau in Gansu, China, Zhang's artistic practice intertwines performative gestures and choreographed images to reveal hidden political issues, dismantling ubiquitous surveillance and patriarchal narratives in various socio-cultural contexts.
Zhang initiated the performance artist collective Hijack打劫 in Shanghai (2016) and GA Physical Theatre in Dali (2015). She holds an MA in Performance Research from the University of Bristol (2014) and a BA in Chinese Literature from Peking University (2010). After receiving the Weiming Poetry Prize, one of the highest awards for young contemporary Chinese poets, in 2010, along with other prestigious awards in the Chinese contemporary poetry world, Zhang shifted her focus to performance art for greater challenge.
EDUCATION
2021- Doctoral studies of Artistic Research in Performing Arts,
University of Arts Helsinki, Finland
2014 MA in Performance Research,
University of Bristol, UK
2010 BA in Chinese Literature,
Peking University, Beijing, China
AWARDS & SCHOLARSHIPS
2024 Finnish Cultural Foundation Grant, Finland
2023 Tutke Production Grant, Theatre Academy, Uniarts Helsinki, Finland
2019 Performing Arts in the Digital Age Fellowship, Goethe-Institut Korea
2010 Weiming Poetry Prize, Peking University, China
2009 Qingxiang Literature Prize, Beijing Institute of Technology, China
2009 Sakura Poetry Competition Prize, Wuhan University, China
2009 Academic Committee Scholarship, Peking University, China
COMMISSIONS
2022 ]performancespace[, Folkestone, UK
2021 CT20, Folkestone, UK
2020 HOP Projects, Folkestone, UK
2019 EMBASSY Gallery, Edinburgh, UK
SELECTED PERFORMANCE & EXHIBITIONS
2024 GIFTS/PRESENTS/PRESENCE, Cable Factory, Helsinki, Finland
2024 The Other Side Opening, Vantaa Art Museum Artsi, Helsinki, Finland
2023 As You May Sense – Environment, Data, Contamination, Helsinki Biennial, Academy of Fine Arts gallery, Helsinki, Finland
2022 Vase, Solo Exhibition (Hijack), CT20, Folkestone, UK
2021 花瓶/Vase, Solo Exhibition (Hijack), Making Space, Guangzhou, China
2021 POW! Surface Tensions 2020 ‘ART UNDER Lockdown’, Power OF Women Fringe Festival, UK
2020 POWER PLAY 2020: Invisible Lines, The Arts House, Singapore
2020 2020: Twenty Years towards A World Theatre, OCAT, Shenzhen, China
2020 白日摸瞎/ Shooting in the Dark, Hop Projects, Folkestone, UK
2019 UP-ON International Live Art Festival, Chengdu, China
2019 Wishing Tower, Tate Modern gallery, London, UK
2019 Bless Your Heart, EMBASSY gallery, Edinburgh, UK
2019 Hairy Death Spiral, Center for Contemporary Arts, Glasgow, UK
2019 Biting Room and Nice Room, GSA MFA Degree Show, The Glue Factory, Glasgow, UK
2017 I Say I Have Problem And You Shoot Me, INSTANT Niaoniao, Shanghai, China
2017 Bodied Space Live Art Festival, Hangzhou, China
2017 StArt Festival, Sinan Mansion, Shanghai, China
2017 Desire Machine, Shanghai Biennale, Power Station of Art, Shanghai, China
2017 Flow/ Flux, Design Harvests, Gallery of Design and Innovation, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
2016 Galaxy, Niaolympic, Ming Contemporary Art Museum, Shanghai, China
2016 Table Manner 2, Niaoniao Festival, Basement 6, Shanghai, China
2015 Action Book - Seeing and Seen, Hounaoshao Art Space, Hangzhou, China
2015 15 Rooms, Long Museum, Shanghai, China
2015 Table Manner, Performance Marathon, Ponderosa, Stolzenhagen, Germany
2015 Chuangku Live Art Festival, Chongqing, China
2015 The Shadow Street, Ga Physical Theatre, Dali, China
2014 The Valley of Burning Strings, Wickham Theatre, Bristol, UK
ARTIST RESIDENCIES
2021 刺纸Prickly Paper, Guangzhou, China
2021 CT20 ‘Lake Lazarillo’, Folkestone, UK
2020 HOP Projects, Folkestone, UK
2017 Design Harvests, Shanghai, China
ARTIST TALKS & WORKSHOPS
2019 Bless Your Heart - Performance Workshop, EMBASSY Gallery, Edinburgh, UK
2017 Talk at Forum "Community Practice in Art/Design", Siping Space, Shanghai, China
2017 Body Reflux and Virtual Healing - Performance Workshop, Xianqiao Village, Shanghai, China