Hong Hao

Hong Hao's work delves into the complex relationship between individuals and their physical possessions, examining the paradox of material excess and aspiration within a communist society. His early practice, following his graduation from the Central Academy of Fine Arts in Beijing, centered on photographic collages made by scanning everyday items like maps, receipts, and banknotes, flattening them to subvert perceived hierarchies of value.

Key series include *Selected Scriptures* (1992–2000), which reinterpreted traditional woodblock printing with subverted maps, and the ongoing *My Things* (2001–present), where he meticulously organizes his possessions by form and color. Since 2013, Hong has expanded into painting with series such as *Reciprocating*, *Reflection*, and *Everchanging Appearance*, delineating abstract silhouettes of objects directly on canvas.

His recent *The Realm of Matters* series (2020–present) sees him inscribing fragments of writing onto Song Dynasty porcelain shards, arranged in patterns that both suggest and disrupt linguistic meaning. Hong Hao's work is held in major public collections worldwide, including The Metropolitan Museum of Art and The Museum of Modern Art, New York.