Born in 1977, lives and works in Beijing.

Xiao Maizi (Maizi means wheat in English), originally called Yang Zhan, was born in Xianyang, Shaanxi, China. After having graduated from Shaanxi Art College in Xi’an, he applied four times to enter the Xi’an Academy of Fine Arts, but failed to get access to the academic examination. Then without any other choice he spent two years as a middle school teacher.

In the winter of 2000, Maizi escaped from his hometown and has since then never been back. He led a vagabond life in different places in the south and engaged in various jobs from 2000 to 2400. In the end of 2005 he went to the Songzhuang artist village and launched different kind of part projects, doing action art, painting as well as installations.

Exhibition:

Fur Fish, Songzhuang Duck Farm Performance Art Festival, December 2006

100 Metres Extention, Xi’an GUYU Act, April 2007

“Union in June”, Songzhuang, June 2007

Fight against Myself, Open Performance Art Festival in 798 in Beijing, September 2007

King, Open Performance Art Festival in 798, 2009

Another 100 Metres Extention, a collaborative project with a Japanese artist in winter of 2009

Painting:

Songzhuang Art Festival, 2006

Songzhuang Art Festival, 2007

Chinese Ink Alliance Songzhuang, 2008

Installation at Songzhuang Shangshang Art Gallery, 2009