Song Dong (b. 1966, Beijing, CN) grew up in a prosperous, traditional family that was plunged into poverty by economic and social developments in China. During the Cultural Revolution, his father was placed in a re-education camp. Song Dong broke off his painting studies after the events in Tiananmen Square in 1989. He started experimenting with performance and video, often in collaboration with his wife, Yin Xiuzhen. Dong’s work reflects on the instability of existence and the transience of human contributions. His family history, the politico-cultural history of China and the profound changes that urban Beijing is undergoing, are all recurring themes in his work.
