_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
BIOGRAPHY | SELECTED WORKS | RECENT EXHIBITIONS
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
BIOGRAPHY
Born in 1970 in Wuhan, China, He An lives and works in Beijing. Growing up in the midst of China’s enormous industrial expansion, the artist’s practices of vandalism explores the narratives formed by calligraphies appearing across cities. In 2000, He An started incorporating neon light-box characters into art practices, with a particular focus on signs, lights, and language that populate the built environment. His light sculpture material is specific to the the context of newer Asian cities—such as Shenzhen and his native Wuhan—and through (re)constructions of names and associates that are close to him, the artist produces evocative combinations that reflect the aesthetics environment of these new cities. His work also investigates taboos and illegalities in the contemporary Chinese society. He An’s recent year practices involve installations in the city landscape. Referencing rock music and movies, the artist produces works that are simultaneously abstract and poetic.
He An has been widely exhibited in international art institutions, including: “Overpop”, Yuz Museum, Shanghai, China, 2016; “Linguistic Pavilion”, Shanghai Minsheng Art Museum, Shanghai, China, 2016; “New Image—2016 New Media Exhibition & screening”, Chengdu Hong Museum, Chengdu, China, 2016; “A Modern Adventure—The Renault Art Collection”, Today Art Museum, Beijing, Wuhan, China, 2015; “The Exhibition of Annual of Contemporary Art of China”, Minsheng Art Museum, Beijing, China, 2015; “A Modern Adventure—The Renault Art Collection”, Today Art Museum, Beijing, Wuhan, China, 2015; “Post Pop East Meets West”, Saatchi Gallery, London, UK, 2014; “The Garden of Diversion”, Sifang Art Museum, Nanjing, China, 2013; “Writing Without Borders”, Lehmann Maupin Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China, 2013; “2013 Carnegie International”, Carnegie Museum of Art, Pittsburgh, USA, 2013.
The artist’s recent solo exhibitions include: “Redtory”, Guangzhou, China, 2016; “Yuzhi”, HDM Gallery, Hangzhou, 2015; “Armenia”, Tang Contemporary Art Center, Beijing, China, 2015; “Wind Light as a Thief”, Galerie Daniel Templon, Brussels, Belgium, 2014.
Download the complete artist biography.
SELECTED WORKS
HE AN, "The Dark Side of the Moon", 2015. Installation, steels, billboard, galvanized iron sheet, light.
HE AN, "What Makes Me Understand What I Know?", Carnegie International, Carnegie Museum of Art, Pittsburgh, USA, 2013
HE AN, "What Makes Me Understand What I Know?", Carnegie International, Carnegie Museum of Art, Pittsburgh, USA, 2013
HE AN, "A Mole on Each Breast and Another on the Shoulder", 2011. Space project, silica gel, dimensions variable.
HE AN, "The Wind Light as a Thief", 2011. Performance and installation, metal plate, acrylic light boxes, LED lights.
HE AN, "The Wind Light as a Thief", 2011. Performance and installation, metal plate, acrylic light boxes, LED lights.
HE AN, "I Believe Someone Will Take Me There, But That's for Tomorrow", installation, 2010
HE AN, "Do You Think That You Can Help Her, Brother?", neon light installation, 2009. Dimensions variable.
HE AN, "What Makes Me Understand What I Know", neon light installation, 2009. Dimensions variable.
HE AN, "I Go to Work and Speak with A-Chang, and After Work Broke up with Him, Standing on the Paradise Circus Street Crying for Several Hours", installation, 2008. LED lightbox, 270 × 7000 cm.
HE AN, "Miss You, Please Contact Me", installation, 2000. LED Light box, 600×140 cm.
For more works and projects by the artist, download the portfolio in pdf
RECENT SOLO EXHIBITIONS
“Redtory”, Guangzhou, China, 2016
“Yuzhi”, HDM Gallery, Hangzhou, 2015
“Armenia”, Tang Contemporary Art Center, Beijing, China, 2015
“Wind Light as a Thief”, Galerie Daniel Templon, Brussels, Belgium, 2014
“It’s Forever Not”, Magician Space, Beijing, China, 2014
“Though Guys Don’t Dance”, Madein Company, Shanghai, China, 2014
“Who is alone now will stay alone forever”, TOP Contemporary Art Center, Shanghai, China, 2012
RECENT GROUP EXHIBITIONS
“Overpop”, YUZ Museum, Shanghai, China, 2016
“Linguistic Pavillion”, Shanghai Minsheng Art Museum, Shanghai, China, 2016
“New Image-2016 New Media Exhibition & screening”, Chengdu Hong Museum, Chengdu, China, 2016
“A Modern Adventure – The Renault Art Collection”, Today Art Museum, Beijing, Wuhan, China, 2015
“The Exhibition of Annual of Contemporary Art of China”, Minsheng Art Museum, Beijing, China
, 2015
“A Modern Adventure-The Renault Art Collection”, Today Art Museum, Beijing, Wuhan, China
, 2015
“Post Pop East Meets West”, Saatchi Gallery, London, UK, 2014
“The Garden of Diversion”, Sifang Art Museum, Najing, China, 2013
“Writing Without Borders”, Lehmann Maupin Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China, 2013
“2013 Carnegie International”, Carnegie Museum of Art, Pittsburgh, USA, 2013
