Bo Zheng is a Hong Kong based artist who works with socially engaged art since 2003. He has worked with a wide range of communities, including the Queer Cultural Center in Beijing and Filipino domestic helpers in Hong Kong. His work Family History Textbook received a Prize of Excellence from the 2005 Hong Kong Art Biennial, and Karibu Islands received a Juror’s Prize from the Singapore Art Museum in 2008. In 2013, he has exhibited in Hong Kong, Mainland China, Austria, and Sweden. His most recent project, Plants Living in Shanghai, combines a physical site in central Shanghai with an open online course, to explore historical, political, and cultural connections between plants and the city.

He visited “Common Stage” for a presentation of his work and a quick interview:

“The intention in my work is usually not explicit. I don’t go from point A to B, but I know the subject I want to work on. It has to come through feeling and time.”

Plants living in Shanghai – Bo Zheng 2013

“I’m not only looking at plants biologically, but also as very closely related to history, economics and politics.” (about his work Plants living in Shanhai)

“The market is still the biggest sector in the art world.”

“I think Hong Kong is at a cross road. I lived in Hong Kong in 2003 when the demonstration on July 1st went down. But I do feel now more than ever that it’s challenging and turbulent, active, explosive, provocative. That’s the most interesting time.”

“A big issue for Hong Kong is that there are limited opportunities for the public to become critical. Most people don’t have the time to think and look critically. If a place has big income disparities, then it’s very hard for people to be critical. They work for 60 hours a week, all they want to do is entertainment and relax. They can be antagonistic, but it’s hard for them to be critical. Being critical takes energy and work.”