Zhou Yan Contemporary Chinese Art Archive 周彦当代中国艺术档案
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Date
6-1995
Format
Photograph
Materials
Action Art
Description
This photograph captures Zhang Huan in the middle of a performance action and was taken in Beijing in June 1995 by East Village (Beijing) photographer, RongRong, who frequently documented the artist's projects. In this action, the artist stands in an alleyway and leans his head against the wall of a residential space. His bare, erect penis also brushes against the brick. His head is mostly shaved except for a pigtail braid in the back. He is wearing linen clothing and leather shoes. His outfit may be calling back to the style of suits commonly worn by men in the 1950s to 1970s during the Mao-era. Meanwhile, his braid may be playing off the queue hairstyle that all men, including those belonging to the Han ethnic group, were forced to adopt during the Qing Dynasty. The coloring of photograph seems to have been edited after it was taken. (Nicole Wang '26).