Haoran Xu

Haoran Xu (1997, China) is an artist who lives in Antwerp and works with installation, performance and text. With references to history, Buddhism and literature, he creates situations in which he explores how apparent meaninglessness and passivity can be a form of resistance. His work moves between seriousness and humour, often drawing on anecdotes and observations from his immediate surroundings.

During his residency at MORPHO, Haoran will work on Pseudo-Hermit Exposes Pseudo-Hermit, in which he explores the figure of the hermit as a mythical and social phenomenon, and its contradictions, by taking on the role of “pseudo-hermit” himself. By combining tent structures, texts, tea ceremonies and small improvisations, he will create temporary spaces in which the contrast between seclusion and public presence becomes tangible. To give shape to his ideas, Haoran will also experiment with ceramics and screen printing.

Haoran graduated from the Central Academy of Fine Arts in Beijing (Media Art, 2021) and obtained a master's degree in Graphic Design from the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Antwerp (2024). His work has been presented at the PABF24 at the Palais de Tokyo in Paris.