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M+ Sigg Collection, Hong Kong. By donation, © Xu Zhen
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Mediatheque
Xu Zhen 徐震
Shouting 喊
1998
Shouting is one of Xu Zhen’s early works questioning the limits of individual expression. First exhibited at the 51st Venice Biennale in 2005, the video shows Xu hiding in crowds and performing a series of loud screams in Shanghai. The artist immerses himself among commuters in subway stations, tourists on the Bund river, and groups in parks, before suddenly letting out a loud cry. The video captures people’s reactions: some stop and stare with a bemused expression, while others continue to walk by, disinterested. Xu’s shouting can be interpreted as an assertion of his own existence; a declaration that states, ‘I’m here!’. At the same time, screaming is a highly disruptive act that goes against the expected social norms and behaviours in public space. Shouting confronts this conflict between individualism that values expression, and a collectivist mindset of maintaining group etiquette and harmony.
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