Jingcheng Zhao: curator in-residence

Jingcheng Zhao is tangata tiriti, living and working in Aotearoa New Zealand. Tangata tiriti means "the people of the treaty”, referring to non-Māori who belong to the land by right of the Treaty of Waitangi. She is interested in the ability of curating to hold multiplicities through responsive positioning with others. Especially Sinophone (wider Chinese-speaking) diasporic formation, and its relation to land and transregional histories.

The query she is exploring right now is “the purpose of the curatorial is what it does”. In her recent role as Kaiwhakamahiri Pirihi Taiwhenua Curatorial Intern at Artspace Aotearoa, she experimented with curating through hosting space. With local residencies, open studios, night schools, workshops, screenings, and all those who entered the space—physically, spiritually, virtually, emotionally—we practised negotiating in relations.

Jingcheng Zhao is currently collaborating on a publication with practitioners in Aotearoa who organise art by creating the conditions for themselves. The contributors include a founder of artist-run space, curators, community garden organisers, and an independent bookstore facilitator.

In collaboration with Laspis

Image 1: Anahera-Jade, Studio Huaki closing event, Badpoi Radio live broadcast, 28 June 2025. Documentation still. Parallax: reiterating forms of gathering, Artspace Aotearoa, Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland, Aotearoa New Zealand. Courtesy the artist.

Image 2: Option #1: Parallax: reiterating forms of gathering, 2025, a programme with Anahera-Jade, Nathan Joe, Sunghwan Bobby Park, Sam Low, Steven Junil Park, Bea Gladding, Izzi Lao, Nirvana Halder, Whiro Walker, Xi Li and Min Kyoung Lee, Artspace Aotearoa, Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland, Aotearoa New Zealand.