Zhang Beili

Place: Hangzhou

Born: 1957

Biography:

Zhang Peili is a Chinese contemporary artist, considered the father of video art in China. He was born in Hangzhou, China, in 1957 and attended the Zhejiang Academy of Fine Arts (now the China Academy of Art), graduating from the Department of Oil Painting in 1984. In 1986, Zhang and fellow artists Geng Jianyi and Song Li founded the Pond Society, an artist collective that aimed to challenge the traditional art system in China. Zhang's works often explore image construction in the media and are infused with sharp social and political commentaries. He works mainly with installation and video.