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The stated aim of Xu Tan’s work is to develop critical strategies for negotiating the rapidly changing economic and cultural life of China. Drawing inspiration from the teachings of the philosopher Zhuangzi (circa 250 BCE), who questioned the tenets of empiricism, he reflects upon the social and architectural means for dividing up reality, in particular, the site-specific changes rapidly occurring in Chinese cities in the Guangzhou region. Venues at which his work has been exhibited include P.S.1 Contemporary Art Center (MoMA) in Long Island City (New York), the Venice Biennial, the Berlin Biennial, the Asia Pacific Triennial of Contemporary Art in Brisbane (Australia), the Guangzhou Triennial, and De Appel in Amsterdam. Recent solo exhibitions include such venues as the DAAD Gallery in Berlin, Vitamin Creative Space in Guangzhou, and BizArt in Shanghai. Xu’s project Keywords School at YBCA will be presented at Yerba Buena Center for the Arts in San Francisco from September 26 to November 15, 2009.
