Zhang Huan is a contemporary Chinese artist known for his innovative and provocative works that explore the relationship between tradition and modernity, individual and society, and the physical and spiritual realms. Born in 1965 in Anyang, a small city in Henan Province, China, Zhang Huan grew up during the Cultural Revolution, a period of social and political upheaval that deeply influenced his artistic practice.

After graduating from Henan University in 1988 with a degree in oil painting, Zhang Huan moved to Beijing, where he became part of the avant-garde art scene. In the early 1990s, he gained international recognition for his performances, which often involved extreme acts of endurance and self-mutilation, and challenged conventional notions of the body and its relationship to society and culture. One of his most well-known performances, "12 Square Meters" (1994), involved him sitting naked in a public toilet covered in fish oil and honey while being swarmed by flies. In another performance, "My New York" (2002), Zhang Huan had his body covered in honey and then covered in feathers while lying on a New York street.

In the late 1990s, Zhang Huan began to shift his focus to sculpture and installation art, using materials such as incense ash, copper, and animal hides to create large-scale works that evoked traditional Chinese culture and spirituality. One of his most famous sculptures, "My Homeland" (1996-97), is a giant head made of incense ash and soil that weighs over three tons and symbolizes the fragility and impermanence of life. Another notable work, "Family Tree" (2001), consists of a large tree made of human skin that was collected from a tattoo parlor and symbolizes the complex relationships between individuals, families, and society.

In recent years, Zhang Huan has continued to explore themes of identity, memory, and spirituality through a variety of media, including painting, photography, and video. His work has been exhibited in major museums and galleries around the world, including the Museum of Modern Art in New York, the National Museum of China in Beijing, and the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao.

Despite his success and international acclaim, Zhang Huan remains deeply connected to his roots in rural China and is actively involved in promoting cultural and environmental conservation in his home province of Henan. In 2013, he founded the Zhang Huan Studio in Shanghai, which serves as a platform for artistic experimentation and cultural exchange between China and the rest of the world.

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