Meet Zimo Zhao

Today we’d like to introduce you to Zimo Zhao.

So, before we jump into specific questions, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I was born in 1996. I am an artist in LA now and also a MFA first-year student in CalArts, majoring in photography and media. I just came to United States for one year, and I am an international student. I used to paint for a long time, I start painting from high school, and I got my BFA in China Renmin University, and my major is oil painting. Then I decided to change my major to photography in order to explore more possibility in my artwork. So I came to the United States to continue studying for my master’s degree.

Has it been a smooth road?
When I see this problem, I actually have a lot to say. As we all know, this is a very difficult year, especially for international students. For me, my study abroad journey is not very smooth, so the first is I used to study in San Francisco Art Institute, however, because of the pandemic the school closed down, so I had to be forced to transfer to the California Institute of the Arts. During the transfer process, I also encountered a lot of difficulties. I once felt very helpless because I could not return to China and also because of the flight ticket is very expensive in that time, so I have to find ways to continue my education. But luckily these were resolved in the end.

Secondly, for being an artist, it is stressful for artists to find opportunities to show their works in gallery this year since most of the gallery and museum are closed. Although we have many online exhibitions, both in terms of the scope of the audience and the impression of the works, they are very different from the experience in real gallery and museum. Especially for international artists, the experience to have exhibitions in United States, it is very important, so we can have more competitiveness and experience when we back China. So this is the two challenges for me this year.

Please tell us more about your art.
I am an artist, and I am good at oil painting and photography. My artwork takes a critical view of social events which have happened in the world and have a profound impact on our contemporary social environment. Often referencing social violent events, online celebrity culture and female security problems. And I also make self-portraits to explore and communicate with myself.

My current project, “How I died in China” is an artwork to presents photographs of violent events in China. I recreate the scene of an actual crime, using my body to display the gruesomeness of the crime scene. I work to expose the ridiculousness behind these social crises. I look for ways to discuss these complex situations interjecting myself into these situations as a way to show a connection with the people who were killed. I recreate the scenes of violent crimes, referring to interviews from people who were at the scene of the crime. I make hand-made miniature models, replacing the actual victim with a cut out photo version of myself. All these events were once well planned violent crimes that caused major effects.

On the right, I display screenshots of news reports of the crime. I believe my artworks can resonate with the audience and make them to rethink our society. And I think what I concentrate on is the most acute problem in our society, which makes my work unique from others. Since I have been involved in both fields, painting and photography, I have a high appreciation and aesthetic ability and have a unique insight into art. And photography gave me a fresh medium to realize some of my ideas, which make me unique from others.

Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
I really like LA, since LA is such a big modern city. What I like best is LA has a good artistic atmosphere and art circle. And also many galleries and museums, so it is a really good place for an art student to study. In LA, I can find more opportunities in galleries and museums and also talking to excellent curators.

For dislikes, well I actually do not have such dislikes, for me maybe it is the pressure from the city, because there are lots of excellent artists, so it is competitive, and everyone is ambitious and aggressive. So it is difficult for an artist to survive, however, it also provides more opportunities for artists.

Contact Info:

• Address: 25399 The Old Road Unit, IMT Stevenson Ranch, 02-209, Valencia, CA, 91381
• Website: www.zimozhao.com
• Phone: 6285026622
• Email: zhaozimo0504@gmail.com
• Instagram: jackiezhao8
• Facebook: Zimo Zhao

Image Credit:
Double Life, 94109, Endangered, How I Die in China

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