Inga Svala Thorsdottir & Wu Shanzhuan

Wu Shanzhuan and Inga Svala Thorsdottir formed a creative duo in 1990. Since then, they have been collaborating for decades, merging their distinct conceptual approaches into a cohesive practice.

Inga Svala Thorsdottir & Wu Shanzhuan's Art Style

Wu Shanzhuan and Inga Svala Thorsdottir have collaborated to create sharply witty, deeply humanist works, including installations, sculptures, photographs, and works on paper. Their projects explore, question, and expand the value and meaning of art and its creation.

Prior to their partnership, both artists had established vibrant careers independently—Wu as a prominent figure in the pre-Tiananmen Square generation of Chinese Conceptualists, and Thorsdottir as a critically acclaimed Icelandic conceptualist.

By combining their language-based, historically informed practices, they have created works such as "To Buy is To Create" (1992-2005), a lightbox featuring the titular slogan and a barcode. This piece highlights the connection between art and consumption, while also drawing on the long tradition of artists transforming everyday objects into art.

During their four-week residency at STPI in 2013, both artists approached their work like scientists in a laboratory, examining how fundamental elements such as lines, shapes, and patterns imbue physical forms with meaning. Their exploration culminated in an exhibition of over 30 new works, showcasing their evolving humanist ideology through print and paper.