Xi Zhou (b. 1992) is an artist originally from China who lives and works in New York City. Using both candid observations and staged reproductions, Xi’s oeuvre contains still images and experimental videos, which center on the details of ordinary life. She earned her MFA in Photography from the School of Visual Art in 2022.
Playground is a series of photographs that capture a group of clay sculptures made by the artist. During a period of depression onset by a stagnant artistic output, she began to experiment in new directions with the use of touch rather than utilizing the camera on its own.
Through dividing, squeezing, shaping, assembling, and arranging the material, Xi found a sense of security, release, and satisfaction akin to that of a child playing.
