Zheng Bo. How Can We Think Beyond Human Exceptionalism?

In this podcast we speak with Chinese artist Zheng Bo about social participative practices, a post-anthropocentric world, the meaning of knowledge in both Western and Chinese culture, and the current political situation in a time of pandemic and multipolarization of powers.

Zheng Bo’s biography and artistic practice give insight on his plurilocal experience between the US, Mainland China and Hong Kong. With the experience of different political environments, he developed a practice oriented with social engaged art and added a main focus since nearly a decade on botany and ecosystem. Through videos, installations, and workshops he develops a non-anthropocentric perspective in which he proposes the notion of interspecies communities and publics.

After spending one year of military service in the Chinese army, studying computer science and art in the US, visual art in Hong Kong and a PhD in Visual Studies under Douglas Crimp in the University of Rochester he taught in the City University of Hong Kong and China Academy of Fine art, so in many other art schools as a guest lecturer.
In this podcast we speak with him about social participative practices, a post-anthropocentric world, the meaning of knowledge in both Western and Chinese culture, and the current political situation in a time of pandemic and multipolarization of powers.

For the complete transcript of the conversation and additional images

Interview: Bernard Vienat
Audio editing: Christina Huber
Copy editing and transcript: Sofia Leiby