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BIOGRAPHY | SELECTED WORKS | RECENT EXHIBITIONS | SELECTED PRESS | INTERVIEW
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BIOGRAPHY
Active online as a media artist, blogger, activist and programmer, aaajiao is the virtual persona of Shanghai-based artist Xu Wenkai. Born in 1984 in one of China’s oldest cities, Xi’an, aaajiao’s art and works are marked by a strong dystopian awareness—his year of birth being the synonym of George Orwell’s classic allegorical novel—, literati spirits and sophistication. Many of aaajiao’s works speak to new thinkings, controversies and phenomenon around the Internet, with specific projects focusing on the processing of data, the blogsphere and China’s Great Fire Wall. aaajiao’s recent projects extend his practice to various disciplines (among them architecture, electronic music, performance, product design, and medicine) to capture the pulse of the young generation consuming cyber technology and living in social media.
Aaajiao’s work has been featured in numerous exhibitions around the world, upcoming and recent shows include: “Art in the Age of the Internet, 1989 to Today”, The Institute of Contemporary Art Boston, Boston (2018); “Being Information”, SSSSTART, Shanghai, China (2017); “unREAL”, Haus der elektronischen Künste, Basel (2017); “Temporal Turn: Art and Speculation in Contemporary Asia”, Spencer Museum of Art, Kansas (2016); “Take Me (I’m Yours)” (curated by Hans Ulrich Obrist, Jens Ho mann and Kelly Taxter), Jewish Museum, New York (2016); “Overpop”, Yuz Museum, Shanghai (2016); “Hack Space” (curated by Hans Ulrich Obrist and Amira Gad), K11 Art Foundation Pop-up Space, Hong Kong and chi K11 art museum, Shanghai (2016); “Globale: Global Control and Censorship”, ZKM | Centre for Art and Media, Karlsruhe (2015); “Thingworld International Triennial of New Media Art”, The National Art Museum of China, Beijing (2014); and Transmediale, Berlin (2010). His solo exhibition includes: “Remnants of an Electronic Past”, Centre for Chinese Contemporary Art, Manchester (2016); OCAT Contemporary Art Terminal Xi’an, Xi’an (2016), among others. He was awarded the Art Sanya Awards in 2014 Jury Prize and was nominated for the first edition of OCAT-Pierre Huber Art Prize in 2014.
Download the complete artist biography.
SELECTED WORKS

aaajiao, "Obj 4", 2014, LCD screen, wood frame Installation: 16.5 x 24.5 x 6.5 cm, Video 8 min in loop

aaajiao, "The Screen Generation", 2013-14, Site-specific installation, algorithmic video, metal structure, Dimension variable

aaajiao, "The Screen Generation", 2013-14, Site-specific installation, algorithmic video, metal structure, Dimension variable

aaajiao, "The Screen Generation", 2013-14, Site-specific installation, algorithmic video, metal structure, Dimension variable

aaajiao, "The Screen Generation", 2013-14, Site-specific installation, algorithmic video, metal structure, Dimension variable

aaajiao, "Meta", 2013, LCD screen, wood frame, electronic components, Installation: 42.5 x 28 x 4.5 cm, Video: 12 min 23 sec in loop

aaajiao, "Meta", 2013, LCD screen, wood frame, electronic components, Installation: 42.5 x 28 x 4.5 cm, Video: 12 min 23 sec in loop

aaajiao, "BlogArchaeological", 2010, Vitrine, electronic balances, SD memory cards with archives of screenshot and html files from everyday updates of RobotWisdom.com between 1999 and 2010, 240 x 150 x 40 cm
For more works and projects by the artist, download the portfolio in pdf.
RECENT EXHIBITIONS
“Art in the Age of the Internet, 1989 to Today”, The Institute of Contemporary Art Boston, Boston, USA, 2018
“Being Information”, SSSSTART, Shanghai, China, 2017
“unREAL”, Haus der elektronischen Künste, Basel, Switzerland, 2017
“Body Media II”, Power Station of Art, Shanghai, China, 2017
“Shanghai Project Chapter 2: Seeds of Time”, Shanghai Himalayas Museum, Shanghai, China, 2017
“All happens after sunset”, MOCA Pavilion, Shanghai, China, 2017
“Create Spaces”, A4 Art Museum, Luxelakes Arts Exhibition Centre, Chengdu, China, 2017
“Temporal Turn: Art and Speculation in Contemporary Asia”, Spencer Museum of Art, Kansas, USA, 2016
“Time Based / Non-places”, The 3rd Shenzhen Independent Animation Biennale, OCT-Loft, Shenzhen, China, 2016
“Heavy Artillery”, White Rabbit Gallery, Sydney, Australia, 2016
“Take Me (I’m Yours)”, Jewish Museum, New York, USA, 2016
“Overpop”, YUZ Museum, Shanghai, China, 2016
“aaajiao: Remnants of an Electronic Past” (solo), OCAT Contemporary Art Terminal Xi’an, Xi’an, China, 2016
“aaajiao: Remnants of an Electronic Past” (solo), Centre for Chinese Contemporary Art, Manchester, UK, 2016
“Hack Space”, curated by Hans Ulrich Obrist and Amira Gad, K11 Art Foundation Pop-up Space, Hong Kong, 2016
“Globale: Global Control and Censorship”, ZKM | Center for Art and Media, Karlsruhe, Germany, 2015
“Alias: aaajiao” (solo), Leo Xu projects, Shanghai, China, 2015
“The 2nd ‘CAFAM Future’ Exhibition: Observer – Creator · The Reality Representation of Chinese Young Art”, Central Academy of Fine Arts Art Museum, Beijing, China, 2015
“The Screen Generation @ 9m²-Museum” (solo), 9m²-Museum (Goethe Open Space), Shanghai, China, 2014
SELECTED PRESS
Artco China, “User, Love and High-Frequency Trading”, by Ma Lingling, Issue 40, July, 2017 [download pdf]
Artco China, A.I. Forum of Artists: Is This a Panic of Being Sold or A Real Crisis?, by Ma Lingling, Issue 40, July, 2017 [download pdf]
MANA, “AAAJIAO: “User, Love, High-Frequency Trading””, by ChillChill, July, 2017 [download pdf]
Shanghai Tatler, “aaajiao: User, Love, High-Frequency Trading”, by Zhang Xiaoqian, July, 2017 [download pdf]
Artworld, “Welcome to the desert that creates an emotional community”, by Liu Xujun, July, 2017 [download pdf]
Modern Weekly, “User, Love, High-Frequency Trading. It is ridiculous to use human to explain machinery”, by tuche, Issue 26, July, 2017 [download pdf]
Artron.net, “AAAJIAO solo exhibition “User, Love, High-Frequency Trading” will be open to the public”, by Jiang Jing, June, 2017 [download pdf]
Artforum, “aaajiao: User, Love, High-Frequency Trading”, by Li Ning, June, 2017 [download pdf]
WKLY, “Aaajiao: The biggest characteristic of our generation is cowardice”, by Song Min, Jun, 2017 [download pdf]
Yuntoo, “In rapidly changing times, maybe we already become “Users””, by Mr. Y, May, 2017 [download pdf]
Artsky, “aaajiao: Love and Fear in the Digital World and Social Media”, May, 2017 [download pdf]
Jiemian.com, “New media artist aaajiao: As artists, ultimately we are only able to think about questions related to human”, by Lin Ziren, May, 2017 [download pdf]
Leap, “Empower the Powerless, Unempower the Powerful – First Annual Conference of Network Society”, by Li Jia, Issue 169, April, 2017 [download pdf]
Frieze, “City Report: Shanghai”, by Alvin Li, February, 2017 [download pdf]
Artnow by Noblesse, “AAAJIAO: The Crisis of Individuals in the Digital Age”, by Mao Judan, Issue 05, December 2016 [download pdf]
Artsy, “Art-World Insiders Select Art Basel in Miami Beach’s Must-See Works”, by Molly Gottschalk, December 2016 [download pdf]
Art Radar, ““Remnants of an Electronic Past”: Chinese new media artist aaajiao – in conversation”, by Marianna Tsionki, September, 2016 [download pdf]
The Art Newspaper, “Human Bodies”, by San San De, issue 41, September, 2016 [download pdf]
Artforum, “Aaajiao: Remnants Of An Electronic Past”, by Zhu He, July, 2016 [download pdf]
Artsy, “20 Chinese Emerging Artists You Should Know”, by Frances Arnold, July, 2016 [download pdf]
Vice, “Aaajiao Created A Consumed Internet Ruins”, by Sherry, July, 2016 [download pdf]
Leap, “Metaphysical Questions About ‘Remnants Of An Electronic Past’”, July, 2016 [download pdf]
Zao Jiu, “Aaajiao: VR Is Not Fresh, It Decreases The Imagination”, by Nuan Da Ren, July, 2016 [download pdf]
Art Review Asia, “Untitled”, by Edward Sanderson, Issue 2, Spring, 2016 [download pdf]
K11 Artoid, “Art Basel Hong Kong Highlights”, Issue 7, 2015 [download pdf]
Harper’s Bazaar Art, “Both Artist And Internet Aborigine”, by Nuo Yi, Issue 371, September, 2015 [download pdf]
The Bund, “Find My Methodology After Burning The Fantasy”, by Han Jian, Issue 655, August, 2015 [download pdf]
Art China, “Blue Is The Color Acquiesced By Computer”, by Chen Zian, Issue 112, April, 2015 [download pdf]
Art World, “Wander”, by Wang Yiquan, Issue 293, February, 2015 [download pdf]
Modern Weekly, “Deduce ‘Alias aaajiao’”, by Yan Bing, Issue 842, February, 2015 [download pdf]
Numéro, “A Mixture of the Tangible and the Intangible”, by Yu Bingxia, February, 2015 [download pdf]
ART289, “Aaajiao, From Creator To New Media Artist”, by Qian Qian, Issue 3, January, 2015 [download pdf]
Art China, “COSMOS at Shanghai 21st Minsheng Art Museum”, by Bai Jiafeng, Issue 110, January, 2015 [download pdf]
Kleidoscope, “He Found The Cycle of Piracy – Sharing – Reinventing Generated A New Circle of Creation”, by Leo Xu, Launch Issue, January, 2015 [download pdf]
Kleidoscope, “AAAJIAO”, by Leo Xu, January, 2015 [download pdf]
The Bund, “Watching the Scenery Through the Vanity”, by Agnès, January, 2015 [download pdf]
Iart, “Xu Wenkai: The Screen Generation”, by Wang Zhen, January, 2014 [download pdf]
The Bund, “The Generation Modulated and Demodulated by Digits”, by Mu Yu, Issue 576, January, 2014 [download pdf]
Randian, “The Static Generation”, by Iona Whittaker, January, 2014 [download pdf]
THERE IS NO THERE, “aaajiao: Turritopsis Nutricula and Cloud.data” , HUNTER BRAITHWAITE, November, 2011 [download pdf]
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