Born in Sichuan Province in 1961, Xu graduated from the Printing Department of the Sichuan Fine Arts Academy in 1987. As well as his more recent paintings shown here, Xu Zhongmin has also made a series of works inspired by the decorative arts of the late 18th and 19th centuries. He has used the conventions of Chinese incised lacquer screens to make intricately patterned compositions with scurrying, often slightly grotesque figures amid urban scenes. The claustrophobic urban world that they represent has something in common with the drawings and prints of M.C. Escher.
1961
Born in Mianyang – Sichuan Province, China
1987
Graduated from Sichuan Fine Arts Academy – Printmaking Sichuan Province, China
EXHIBITIONS
2005
“WOODCARVING AND INSTALLATION”, Albemarle Gallery London, The Red Mansion Foundation, UK
“CONVERGENCE AT E116/N40 BEIJING INTERNATIONAL CONTEMPORARY ART EXHIBITION”, 798 Da Yaolu Art Space and East End Art Zone, Beijing, China
“INDIVIDUAL EXHIBITION”, Albemarle Gallery, London, UK
“SHANGHAI COOL”, Shanghai Duolun Museum of Modern Art, Shanghai, China
“CONVERGENCE AT E116/N40 BEIJING INTERNATIONAL CONTEMPORARY ART EXHIBITION”, 798 Da Yaolu Art Space and East End Art Zone, Beijing, China
“INDIVIDUAL EXHIBITION”, Albemarle Gallery, London, UK
“SHANGHAI COOL”, Shanghai Duolun Museum of Modern Art, Shanghai, China
2004
“IS IT ART?”, Xi’an Art Museum, China
2003-04
“CHINA TODAY”, The British Library Gallery, London, UK
“JAPAN INTERNATIONAL ART FESTIVAL”, Tokyo, Japan
“JAPAN INTERNATIONAL ART FESTIVAL”, Tokyo, Japan
2002
“CITY OF DREAMS”, Individual Exhibition, Gallery Art U, Osaka, Japan
“DIALOGUE”, Contemporary Art Center, Osaka, Japan
“DREAM 02”, The Bargehouse and The Gallery OXO, The Red Mansion Foundation, London, UK
“MEDIA CITY”, Art Gallery Artist Commune, Hong Kong
“DIALOGUE”, Contemporary Art Center, Osaka, Japan
“DREAM 02”, The Bargehouse and The Gallery OXO, The Red Mansion Foundation, London, UK
“MEDIA CITY”, Art Gallery Artist Commune, Hong Kong
2001
“INDIVIDUAL EXHIBITION: TIDAL WAVE”, The October Gallery, London, UK
“DREAM 01”, Atlantis Gallery, The Red Mansion Foundation, London, UK
“YOUTH IN TRANSITION”, German and British artists, He Xiangning Art Gallery, Shenzhen, China
“WORK COLLECTED BY THE RED MANSION FOUNDATION”, London, UK
“DREAM 01”, Atlantis Gallery, The Red Mansion Foundation, London, UK
“YOUTH IN TRANSITION”, German and British artists, He Xiangning Art Gallery, Shenzhen, China
“WORK COLLECTED BY THE RED MANSION FOUNDATION”, London, UK
2000
“THE FIGURE IN CONTEMPORARY CHINESE ART”, The Air Gallery, Hanart, London, UK
“FACE AND GESTURES”, touring exhibition of two artists in China, Upriver Gallery, Kunming, Yunnan; Sichuan Fine Art Academy, Chongqing; Chengdu Upriver Gallery, Sichuan; Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan “WORK COLLECTED BY THE MUBAN FOUNDATION”, London, UK
“FACE AND GESTURES”, touring exhibition of two artists in China, Upriver Gallery, Kunming, Yunnan; Sichuan Fine Art Academy, Chongqing; Chengdu Upriver Gallery, Sichuan; Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan “WORK COLLECTED BY THE MUBAN FOUNDATION”, London, UK
1999
“TRANSVANGARDE EXHIBITION”, The October Gallery, London, UK
“TWO ARTIST EXHIBITION”, Well Hung Gallery, London, UK
“WORK COLLECTED BY BOEHRINGER INGELHEIM, Berkshire, UK
“TWO ARTIST EXHIBITION”, Well Hung Gallery, London, UK
“WORK COLLECTED BY BOEHRINGER INGELHEIM, Berkshire, UK
1998
“THE 4th SAPPORO INTERNATIONAL PRINT BIENNALE”, Hokkaido Museum of Modern Art, Sapporo, Japan. Awarded the Sponsor’s Prize
“WORK COLLECTED BY THE HOKKAIDO MUSEUM OF MODERN ART”, Sapporo, Japan
“THE INTERNATIONAL TRIENNIAL 1998”, Osaka, Japan
“THE HUNTING ART PRIZES EXHIBITION 1998”, The Royal College of Art Gallery, London, UK; Newport Museum and Art Gallery, Newport, UK
“WORK COLLECTED BY THE HOKKAIDO MUSEUM OF MODERN ART”, Sapporo, Japan
“THE INTERNATIONAL TRIENNIAL 1998”, Osaka, Japan
“THE HUNTING ART PRIZES EXHIBITION 1998”, The Royal College of Art Gallery, London, UK; Newport Museum and Art Gallery, Newport, UK
1997
“229th SUMMER EXHIBITION”, Royal Academy of Arts, London, UK. Awarded The Guinness Prize for the Best First-Time Contributor
“THE INTERNATIONAL TRIENNIAL 1997”, Osaka, Japan
“DIALOGUE”, The October Gallery, London, UK
“ANOTHER PROVINCE EXHIBITION: Video and Film InstallatioN”, Waterman’s Arts Center, London, UK
“WORKS COLLECTED BY THE CLIFFORD CHANCE ART COLLECTION”, London, UK
“WORK COLLECTED BY THE GUINNESS ART COLLECTION”, Guinness PLC, London, UK
“THE INTERNATIONAL TRIENNIAL 1997”, Osaka, Japan
“DIALOGUE”, The October Gallery, London, UK
“ANOTHER PROVINCE EXHIBITION: Video and Film InstallatioN”, Waterman’s Arts Center, London, UK
“WORKS COLLECTED BY THE CLIFFORD CHANCE ART COLLECTION”, London, UK
“WORK COLLECTED BY THE GUINNESS ART COLLECTION”, Guinness PLC, London, UK
1996
“THE 3rd SAPPORO INTERNATIONAL PRINT BIENNALE”, Hokkaido Museum of Modern Art, Sapporo, Japan. Awarded The First Prize
“WORKS COLLECTED BY THE HOKKAIDO MUSEUM OF MODERN ART”, Sapporo, Japan
“TRANSVANGARDE EXHIBITION”, Video Installation and Woodcut, The October Gallery, London, UK
“CELL”, Installation: Video and Performance, Sichuan, China
“EXHIBITION OF RECENT AQUISITIONS AT THE BRITISH MUSEUM, London, UK
“NATIONAL PRINTMAKING EXHIBITION”, The Mall Gallery, London, UK
“WORKS COLLECTED BY THE HOKKAIDO MUSEUM OF MODERN ART”, Sapporo, Japan
“TRANSVANGARDE EXHIBITION”, Video Installation and Woodcut, The October Gallery, London, UK
“CELL”, Installation: Video and Performance, Sichuan, China
“EXHIBITION OF RECENT AQUISITIONS AT THE BRITISH MUSEUM, London, UK
“NATIONAL PRINTMAKING EXHIBITION”, The Mall Gallery, London, UK
1995
“AWARD: THE POLLOCK-KRASNER FOUNDATION AWARD”, New York, USA
“INDIVIDUAL EXHIBITION”, The October Gallery, London, UK
“WORKS COLLECTED BY THE OCTOBER GALLERY”, London, UK
“WORKS COLLECTED BY THE CENTRE OF CONTEMPORARY ARTS AND CULTURE”, Osaka, Japan
“INDIVIDUAL EXHIBITION”, The October Gallery, London, UK
“WORKS COLLECTED BY THE OCTOBER GALLERY”, London, UK
“WORKS COLLECTED BY THE CENTRE OF CONTEMPORARY ARTS AND CULTURE”, Osaka, Japan
1994
“THE INTERNATIONAL TRIENNIAL 1994”, Osaka, Japan
“WORKS COLLECTED BY THE CENTRE OF CONTEMPORARY ARTS AND CULTURE”, Osaka, Japan
“WORKS OF XU ZHONGMIN”, Cite Internationale, Paris, France
“THE HUNTING ART PRIZES EXHIBITION 1994”, The Royal College of Art Gallery, London, UK
“WORKS COLLECTED BY THE CENTRE OF CONTEMPORARY ARTS AND CULTURE”, Osaka, Japan
“WORKS OF XU ZHONGMIN”, Cite Internationale, Paris, France
“THE HUNTING ART PRIZES EXHIBITION 1994”, The Royal College of Art Gallery, London, UK
1993
“WORKS COLLECTED BY THE BRITISH MUSEUM”, UK
“THE INTERNATIONAL TRIENNIAL 1993”, Osaka, Japan. Award: Sakai City Prize
“NATIONAL PRINTMAKING EXHIBITION”, The Mall Gallery, London, UK
“THE SECOND SAPPORO INTERNATIONAL PRINT BIENNALE”, Sapporo, Japan
“MANCHESTER ACADEMY ANNUAL EXHIBITION”, Manchester, UK. Award: Manchester Academy Annual Exhibition, NORWEB Major Award, UK
“THE INTERNATIONAL TRIENNIAL 1993”, Osaka, Japan. Award: Sakai City Prize
“NATIONAL PRINTMAKING EXHIBITION”, The Mall Gallery, London, UK
“THE SECOND SAPPORO INTERNATIONAL PRINT BIENNALE”, Sapporo, Japan
“MANCHESTER ACADEMY ANNUAL EXHIBITION”, Manchester, UK. Award: Manchester Academy Annual Exhibition, NORWEB Major Award, UK
1992
“TWO ARTIST EXHIBITION”, Central Fine Art Academy Gallery, Beijing; International Art Gallery, Beijing, China
1991
“NEW EXPRESSION PAINTING EXHIBITION”, exhibition of two artists
1990
Exhibition with five other artists, Dusseldorf, Germany
1988
“EXHIBITION OF FOUR ARTISTS”, China National Fine Art Gallery, Beijing, China