Hao Jingban works with film and video to investigate the historical distance between the present and the past. In her research-based practice, Hao conducts historical investigation, archival research, field study, personal interviews, and live performances. Her works are presented as observational documentaries, entangling individual stories with collective histories. From the ballroom dancing in Beijing before and after the Cultural Revolution, to the films of North-eastern China from the 1930s, Hao weaves together complex historical narratives, social movements, and cultural commentary against the ambivalence and silence of the bygone era. In recent works, Hao scrutinises and reflects on contemporary socio-political conditions, particularly the psychological impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, the war in Ukraine, and the Black Lives Matter Movement.
Hao is winner of the Han Nefkens Foundation, Mori Art Museum, M+ Hong Kong and Singapore Art Museum—Moving Image Commission 2023; her commissioned video installation I Witness (2025) will tour at the three museums. Hao’s solo exhibitions took place at Matadero Madrid (2020), OCAT Xi’an (2019), Blindspot Gallery (Hong Kong, 2018), UCCA (Beijing, 2016), and Taikang Space (Beijing, 2016). Her works have been exhibited in institutions and biennales, including Rockbund Art Museum (Shanghai, 2025 & 2019), 36th Bienal de São Paulo (2025), Haus der Kulturen der Welt (HKW) (Berlin, 2025), Frac Bretagne (Rennes, 2025), TANK Shanghai (2024), West Bund Museum (Shanghai, 2023), Arts West Gallery (Melbourne, 2023), 10th Asia Pacific Triennial of Contemporary Art (Brisbane, 2021), 11th Seoul Mediacity Biennale (2021), Times Art Center Berlin (2020), Power Station of Art (Shanghai, 2019), Guangdong Times Museum (Guangzhou, 2019 & 2018), Centre Pompidou (Paris, 2017 & 2019), Museum of Fine Arts (Boston, 2018), and 11th Shanghai Biennale (2016). Hao’s works are in the collection of the M+ (Hong Kong), Centre Pompidou (Paris, France), Frac Bretagne (Rennes, France), and the Power Station of Art (Shanghai, China).
Hao formed 楔Xiē together with Shen Xin, Yunyu “Ayo” Shih, and Qu Chang. They had their exhibition: “楔 XIĒ: 連接，嵌入，反射，承托 TO BIND, EMBED, SHIMMER, AND BRACE” at daadgalerie in Berlin in 2022.
Hao currently lives and works in Yunnan Province, China.
