Zishi Han
b. 1990
Lives and works in Frankfurt, DE
b. 1990
Lives and works in Frankfurt, DE
ARTIST STATEMENT
With a focus on installation, Zishi Han’s practice encompasses a range of media, including sculpture, video, and performance. Growing up in Beijing and spending time in London and Frankfurt, Han has been observing the mega-scale architectural environment where power structures have been solidified in their physicality. Often informed by research into transcultural figures, artefacts and events, Han constructs orchestrated apparatuses that enable densely layered spatial experiences.
At first glimpse, Han’s structures and objects are rigid and imposing, alluding to a masochistic attachment to power structures. However, their mechanisms are exposed, and structures are fragile and delicate. Han is drawn to things that hold and let through, such as containers, vessels, pipes, ducts and channels, and their zoomorphic and anthropomorphic qualities as shells, skins and veins. He explores how their forms have the potential to dismantle previous relations to incubate unexplored desires.
At first glimpse, Han’s structures and objects are rigid and imposing, alluding to a masochistic attachment to power structures. However, their mechanisms are exposed, and structures are fragile and delicate. Han is drawn to things that hold and let through, such as containers, vessels, pipes, ducts and channels, and their zoomorphic and anthropomorphic qualities as shells, skins and veins. He explores how their forms have the potential to dismantle previous relations to incubate unexplored desires.
EDUCATION
2018 – 2024
Fine Arts, Städelschule
Frankfurt am Main, Germany
2012 – 2014
MA Design, Royal College of Art
London, UK
2008 – 2012
BEng Vehicle Engineering
Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
Fine Arts, Städelschule
Frankfurt am Main, Germany
2012 – 2014
MA Design, Royal College of Art
London, UK
2008 – 2012
BEng Vehicle Engineering
Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
AWARDS & NOMINATIONS
2025
E.A.T PRIZE
China
E.A.T PRIZE
China
2024
Gargonza Arts Award
Germany
Solo Award 2024
Charlottenborg Forårsudestilling
Denmar
2023
Nominee,
The Federal Prize for Art Students,
Germany
2022
Nominee,
Dangxia Young Artist Award
PUBLICATIONS & CATALOGUE
2024
'The Call: Absolvent*innenausstellung 2024’,
Städelschule, Germany
2023
'Pickle Bar Presents',
West Den Haag,
Netherlands
‘Hairpin Beneath’,
Frankfurt am Main, Germany
2022
‘Touch Release’,
Printer Fault Press,
Frankfurt am Main, Germany
2021
‘Antonio’s Dream: A Journey Through Art and Textile’
Fondazione Antonio Ratti, Italy
2019
‘How to begin’,
Compagnia, London, UK
RESIDENCIES
2025
forthcoming
The Danish Art Workshops (SVFK)
Copenhagen, Danmark
Asian Art Archive in America
New York, US
2024
Gargonza Arts Scholarship Residency
Tuscany, Italy
2018
XXIV CSAV – Artists Research Laboratory with Christina Mackie
Fondazione Antonio Ratti
Como, Italy
'The Call: Absolvent*innenausstellung 2024’,
Städelschule, Germany
2023
'Pickle Bar Presents',
West Den Haag,
Netherlands
‘Hairpin Beneath’,
Frankfurt am Main, Germany
2022
‘Touch Release’,
Printer Fault Press,
Frankfurt am Main, Germany
2021
‘Antonio’s Dream: A Journey Through Art and Textile’
Fondazione Antonio Ratti, Italy
2019
‘How to begin’,
Compagnia, London, UK
RESIDENCIES
2025
forthcoming
The Danish Art Workshops (SVFK)
Copenhagen, Danmark
Asian Art Archive in America
New York, US
2024
Gargonza Arts Scholarship Residency
Tuscany, Italy
2018
XXIV CSAV – Artists Research Laboratory with Christina Mackie
Fondazione Antonio Ratti
Como, Italy
SOLO & DUO EXHIBITIONS
2025
forthcoming
Politikens Forhal
Copenhagen, Denmark
forthcoming
BROWNIE Project
Shanghai, China
Sculpture Center
New York City, US
2023
uncontain
saasfee*pavillon
Frankfurt am Main, Germany
2021
imagines
MEWO Kunsthalle
Memmingen, Germany
2025
forthcoming
Politikens Forhal
Copenhagen, Denmark
forthcoming
BROWNIE Project
Shanghai, China
Sculpture Center
New York City, US
2023
uncontain
saasfee*pavillon
Frankfurt am Main, Germany
2021
imagines
MEWO Kunsthalle
Memmingen, Germany
SELECT EVENTS,
PERFORMANCES & SCREENINGS
PERFORMANCES & SCREENINGS
2025
Quivering BloomStichting Perdu
Amsterdam, the Netherlands
2024
Hairpin beneath
TROPEZ
Berlin, Germany
Kunstraum MEMPHIS
Linz, Austria
Pols
Valencia, Spain
West Den Haag
Den Haag, Netherlands
2023
Tearoom Relay – Pit Stop
Delfina Foundation
London, UK
Thank you!
Pickle Bar
Berlin, Germany
2021
Slow Signal
Korean Pavilion
Venice Architecture Biennale
Venice, Italy
2018
Open Screenings
Whitechapel Gallery
London, UK
SELECT GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2024
San Dian Shui
Tofu Collective
Copenhagen, Denmark
Seeing in the Dark
Busan Biennale 2024
South Korea
The Call: Absolvent*innenausstellung 2024
Frankfurt am Main, Germany
Charlottenborg Spring Exhibition
Kunsthal Charlottenborg
Copenhagen, Denmark
2023
On the Foothills - Reflection
Rinde am Rhein
Düsseldorf, Germany
Atlas of Affinities: Vol.2, Scores for Movement
Hua International
Beijing, China
2022
‘Dwelling on the Cloud’
Ugly Duck
London, UK 2022
‘Atlas of Affinities: Vol.1, The Far-Near’,
Hua International
Berlin, Germany
2021
Touch Release
Nassauischer Kunstverein
Wiesbaden, Germany
Antonio’s Dream: A Journey Through Art and Textile
Fondazione Antonio Ratti
Como, Italy
Pleasure, Torture, Structure
Jo-Anne,
Frankfurt am Main, Germany
2020
Moving Plants
Palmengarten
Frankfurt, Germany
2018
Laboratorio Aperto
asilo Sant’ Elia, Fondazione Antonio Ratti,
Como, Italy
2024
San Dian Shui
Tofu Collective
Copenhagen, Denmark
Seeing in the Dark
Busan Biennale 2024
South Korea
The Call: Absolvent*innenausstellung 2024
Frankfurt am Main, Germany
Charlottenborg Spring Exhibition
Kunsthal Charlottenborg
Copenhagen, Denmark
2023
On the Foothills - Reflection
Rinde am Rhein
Düsseldorf, Germany
Atlas of Affinities: Vol.2, Scores for Movement
Hua International
Beijing, China
2022
‘Dwelling on the Cloud’
Ugly Duck
London, UK 2022
‘Atlas of Affinities: Vol.1, The Far-Near’,
Hua International
Berlin, Germany
2021
Touch Release
Nassauischer Kunstverein
Wiesbaden, Germany
Antonio’s Dream: A Journey Through Art and Textile
Fondazione Antonio Ratti
Como, Italy
Pleasure, Torture, Structure
Jo-Anne,
Frankfurt am Main, Germany
2020
Moving Plants
Palmengarten
Frankfurt, Germany
2018
Laboratorio Aperto
asilo Sant’ Elia, Fondazione Antonio Ratti,
Como, Italy
COLLECTIVE
LONG-TERM PROJECTS
2024
Project space ‘Temple’
Offenbach am Main, Germany
2022
Performance gathering ‘TeaRoom Relay’
2019 - 2023
Garden Group at Städelschule
Frankfurt am Main, Germany
2020 - 2021
Project space ‘Jo-Anne’
Frankfurt am Main, Germany
2017 - 2018
Curatorial collective ‘Stir Fry Papaya’
London, UK