Zhang Xu Zhan creates stop-motion films, for which he shapes filigree figures and landscapes out of papier-mâché. Within them, he constructs cosmoses populated by mythical creatures, singing animals and plants, and spirits, forming a world that is at once apocalyptic and fantastical. They encapsulate ancient rituals and his wry observations around current social phenomena. His practice is influenced by his upbringing, being the fourth generation to own the Hsin Hsin Joss Paper store in Taiwan. In 2021, he was named Deutsche Bank’s Artist of the Year, being the first Taiwanese artist to win the award, and won the Best Animated Short Film at the Golden Horse Film Award in 2022.
His solo exhibitions were held at High Line Art Channel (New York, 2025), Taitung Art Museum (Taitung City, 2025), KOHTA (Helsinki, 2025), ILHAM Gallery (Kuala Lumpur, 2024), and Taipei Fine Arts Museum (2022), among others. He has also exhibited in institutions and biennales internationally, including Ujazdowski Castle Centre for Contemporary Art (Warsaw, 2026), 12th SITE SANTA FE International Biennial (2025), Ludwig Museum – Museum of Contemporary Art (Budapest, 2025), International Film Festival Rotterdam(IFFR) (2025), 11th Asia Pacific Triennial of Contemporary Art (Brisbane, 2024), PinchukArtCentre (Kyiv, 2024), Macalline Center of Art (Beijing, 2024), 7th Yokohama Triennale (2020), Asia Culture Center (ACC) (Gwangju, 2020) Museum of Contemporary Art Taipei (2020), La Biennale de Lyon (2019), Rockbund Art Museum (Shanghai, 2019), 12th Shanghai Biennale (2018), and National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art (Seoul, 2018), among others.
Zhang currently lives and works in Taipei, Taiwan
