Song Zhou | Art Macao: Macao International Art Biennale 2025 | Sands Resorts Macao

Artist: Song Zhou

Born in Jiangxi China, based in Beijing, Song Zhou graduated from the Oil Painting Department of Tianjin Academy of Fine Arts in 2006 and is one of the leading figures in Chinese contemporary hyperrealist painting.

Zhou has held numerous major solo exhibitions in Beijing, Shanghai, Germany and Dubai. His works have also been featured in prominent international exhibitions and projects across Europe, North America, South America, and Asia. These appearances reflect his active presence and growing recognition in the global art scene.

Zhou has received several prestigious awards, including the Lorenzo International Installation Art Award at the 11th Florence Biennale (2017) and the Painting Prize at the 5th May Fourth International Youth Art Festival (2012), making him one of the most accomplished and influential young Chinese artists of his generation.

His work has been collected by numerous notable institutions and foundations. Zhou’s artistic language seamlessly integrates Eastern philosophical thought with Western techniques, drawing on the legacy of artists like Salvador Dalí and Marcel Duchamp. Through this synthesis, he continuously builds a unique visual bridge between tradition and contemporary reality.

Artworks

A Fable of New Nature

Fiber-glass, 210cm (H) CM

This sculpture unites Elmo, the beloved Sesame Street character who embodies childhood innocence and joy, with the Roman goddess Victoria, a symbol of triumph and success. Through the seamless fusion of these two figures, the work connects classical mythology with contemporary pop culture—inviting viewers to reflect on how ancient ideals of victory and excellence continue to resonate with today’s values of learning, play, and personal achievement.

Elmo is adorned with Victoria’s laurel crown, wings, and ornate attire, symbolizing that victory is not only about conquest, but also about nurturing growth, celebrating learning milestones, and finding joy in everyday accomplishments. This playful yet meaningful combination encourages audiences of all ages to reconsider what “victory” means—it is no longer a glory reserved for gods and heroes of the past, but something each of us can experience through small, personal moments of happiness and growth in our daily lives.