Zhang Huan

Zhang Huan is a Chinese artist based in New York. He is primarily a performance artist but he also occasionally makes photographs and sculpture.


Zhang’s performances always involve his body in one way or another, usually naked, occasionally involving masochistic actions; he cites the body as a primary method of communication, describing it as the only means by which people experience the world and vice versa. By using quasi-religious ritual, he seeks to discover the point at which the spiritual can manifest via the corporeal. He uses simple repetitive gestures, usually regarded as meaningless work-for-work’s-sake chores. Buddhism, with its temple music, sculptures and philosophy are a prevalent theme in Zhang Huan’s work.

Here is a recent picture of him wearing a suit made completely of raw beef ;it's a representation of how some body builders pump themselves up because they are desperate to hide their insecurities and shortcomings.