Zai Xu

Background

About Zai Xu

Zai Xu (*1998) is an interdisciplinary artist*, producer*, curator*, and founder* of the art space SVĚTOVA 1. Their work to date explores the experience of growing up as a person of color in a white society, feelings of vulnerability, and queer themes. Through writing, photography, and mixed-media installations, they explore the different components of their identity. Their first text work, Why Am I so White? was published by Tranzit.cz in the book Soft Spots as part of the 2022 Biennial Matter of Art. Since 2018, when they founded SVĚTOVA 1, an artist-run space focused on emerging, queer, and socio-political issues, they have focused on supporting young art, experimenting with exhibition formats, and searching for the optimal scheme of sustainability. Xu has dramaturgically and curatorially contributed to all of SVĚTOVA 1's activities, co-producing over 24 exhibitions and seventy public programs. In 2022, they initiated As We Grow, an educational research series focused on learning through making for early career artists. In 2023, they co-initiated the Festival kvír vědomostí to collectively explore and share queer and feminist knowledge, approaches, and perspectives. In September 2023, they initiated an informal regular gathering of non-profit Prague art spaces called "swimming pool". In collaboration with the Plusko+ collective, in 2023 they also presented Say my name zine mapping the available information about the Czech queer scene to the public.