Hu Xiangqian’s video and performance work exposes the absurdity of the everyday by playing on politics, cultural identity and the limitations of man. Often daring to deviate from reality by imagining what underlies our existence, Hu has created a potent expression of contemporary life. The observation of traffic lights inspired the artist to muse on the dynamics of friendship in the work Two Men. “Often when I cross the street and look at the traffic signal, the red and green lights remind me of two men who live very close together but can never come face to face. All they can do is work all day. It must be so frustrating for them – why not let them come down and dance?” Two Men is a humorous dialogue between two men who use their bodies to converse, creating a lyrical expression of friendship at the same time manifesting a fleeting daydream into reality. Hu Xiangqian, originally from Guangzhou, is based in Beijing. His works have been included in significant exhibitions including the 2010 Shanghai Biennale, China Power Station Part II show at the Astrup Fearnley Museum of Modern art in Oslo as well as Ullens Center for Contemporary Art in Beijing’s Organism exhibition.
