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Wei Xiong (born in Xuancheng) is a Chinese artist currently based in London and Hangzhou.
His creative inspiration stems from a deep fascination with various elements of the natural world. Through a non-anthropocentric perspective, Xiong explores the concepts of habitat, home, migration, and borders through photography, sculpture, and installation, examining the fluidity of identity within the context of globalization and mobility.
His latest work, *Where are you from?*, addresses the complex issue of "invasive species" as defined by human activity. The project features animals such as Chinese crayfish, Chinese tilapia, New Zealand wild cats, and North American wild boars. These species were initially displaced from their native habitats due to human activities, desires, and consumption, and introduced into unfamiliar environments. Over time, however, they have been labelled as threats to local ecosystems, leading to their abandonment, punishment, and even demonization. As the title *Where are you from?* suggests, that the work raises a question. Xiong presents partial features of these animals through metallic-glazed ceramics, embedding them within spatial structures to depict the fragile existence of these lives caught between fear and innocence, within complex political frameworks.
Through this project, Wei Xiong draws from his own experiences to engage in a broader discussion of human social conditions, questioning and challenging identity, rights, borders, and rules within political discourse.
