CV — CAO XUN

Can, Xun is an Auckland based visual artist who loves making images :(

"An ongoing thread in my work is the exploration of ideas around emotional discomfort and awkwardness. Awkwardness and embarrassment are an unavoidable part of life. Our day-to-day interactions with other people are often interposed with strange and confusing moments. I am interested in manipulating this. Are the covered faces of my models implying a sense of shame, a need for anonymity? Or are the masks and props that conceal the faces simply part of a spontaneous, carefree moment?" ---- Cao Xun 2015

Education

2015 - 2017 - graduated Mater of Honours major of Fine Arts at Elam School , The University of Auckland

2011~2014 - graduated Bachelor's degree major of Photography and Media Arts at Unitec Institute of Technology

Exhibition and Award

2024 ‘Set Dressing’ 02 March - 16 Jun 2024 Govett-Brewster Art Gallery/Len Lye Centre, New Plymouth, New Zealand, Christine Hellyar, Gary Cocker, Cao Xun

2021 ‘Command & Conquer: The Covert Sculpture’ PARASITE Gallery, Auckland, New Zealand. (Solo Exhibition)

2021 MĀNAWATIA TAKATĀPUI/DEFENDING PLURALITY, Tauranga art Gallery (Group)

2020 ‘Shrinking Violet’ Play Station Gallery, Wellington, New Zealand. (Group)

2020 ‘ Social Practice’ Show at 19 Putiki St, Auckland, New Zealand (Group)

2019 ‘THE MOOD MACHINE PROJECT’ with SATELLITES

2018 'Fat Duck' at the The Pah Homestead, Auckland New Zealand.

2017 'The Tomorrow People' at the Adam Art Gallery, Welington, New Zealand.

2017 ‘The Jump’ from ‘The Tomorrow People’ exhibition was collected from VUW Art Collection Trust.

2017 The 'Red Rabbits' collected by the James Wallace Arts Trust.

2017 "Open Water" at Arthaus Gallery 1 June - 25 June, Auckland New Zealand( Group)

2017 "I Hate You, I Hate You, I Hate You, Because I Don'y Hate You; I Love You." exhibition project co-organised by ArtSpace NZ and Michael Lett Gallery on Karangahape Road

2016 Elam Grad Show, Auckland NewZealand

2016 "White Night Arts Festival" at Q Theatre Show, Auckland New Zealand (group)

2016 "The Colour of Your Hearts is What Matters" Studio One Gallery, Auckland New Zealand (group)

2015 'New Perspectives' 4 Cross St Gallery, Auckland New Zealand (group)

2015 'Elam Grad Show 2015', Elam A building, Elam School of Fine Arts, Auckland New Zealand.

2015 'Queering Ecologies' Allpress Gallery, Auckland New Zealand.(group)

2015 The collection 'The Bubble Has Burst' collected by the James Wallace Arts Trust.

2014 'Underground Fashion and Photography Exhibition' Auckland, New Zealand.

2014 'Portraits' Blush Gallery, Auckland, New Zealand.