Zhang’s conceptual, multidisciplinary artworks explore a weighty series of subjects spanning politics, history, religion, and humanity. During the last 3 decades he has exhibited at some of the world’s most prestigious museums, and in 2020 became the first living Chinese artist to have a solo show at the State Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg. In the 1990s his early performances captured the attention of the contemporary art world. Angel (1993) saw him naked in pools of red paint holding a plastic baby outside the National Art Gallery in Beijing, its provocative format and criticism of China’s one-child policy resulted in the entire show being shut down. 12 Square Metres (1994) saw Zhang seated on a public toilet, soaked in honey and fish oil while allowing flies to crawl into his orifices. Since, Zhang’s practice has grown to encompass abstract and figurative painting as well as large-scale sculpture and installation. His prolific oeuvre is united by a tireless appetite for probing the philosophies of existence, power and spirituality.