McNally School
of Fine Arts
He Zhengyang
(Charles) Zhengyang He is a Chinese-born, New Zealand-based multidisciplinary artist working at the intersection of sculpture, painting, installation, conceptual art, and ecological systems. His artistic practice is fundamentally grounded in Eastern Taoist philosophy, investigating the dynamic balance between humanity and the natural world, seeking harmony within ecological systems. He employs a diverse range of materials and processes, encompassing both traditional mediums and organic elements, to create works that embody principles of transformation, spontaneity, and non-interference (Wu Wei).
His MA practice is characterised by an innovative exploration of agriculture as both subject and methodology. The pigments, which are self-grown and derived from plants, function as both a medium and a metaphor in various artistic expressions, including installations, paintings, and conceptual works. The pigments in question are cultivated and processed in accordance with intentional, seasonally attuned practices, thereby manifesting the principles of Wu Wei (non-interference) and profound ecological reciprocity. His artistic practice reframes farming as a nature ritual, where the cultivation of pigments serves as a conduit between agrarian cycles and artistic creation. Through this medium, the artist poses critical questions regarding conventional production methods while advocating for localized, sustainable materiality.
Professional practice
It is not merely a compilation of chemical symbols, but rather a journey of life. The crops I cultivate with my own hands gather the genes of colour amidst wind and rain; I distil the blood of petals, expose the tears of roots and stems to the sun, and seal the tides of plant respiration within the confines of crystals. The powders sleeping in these bottles and jars were once rivers of sap rushing through leaf veins, the sweet whispers of buds at dawn, and the sparks of fruit bursting upon impact with the ground. When the passage of time captivates the flow of life, they transform into tranquil moments of colour. When the canvas awakens, they begin to breathe anew through colour.
Visit www.charleshe.art for a detailed portfolio.
Competitions
Global AgriInno Challenge 2024, organised by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and Zhejiang University: Pitched a bionic agriculture system that was trialled at Winstedt Campus.
