Zhao Zhao is well known for his mould breaking and highly provocative art practice and is keen on using various artistic mediums to challenge what is known as reality, and our traditional perceptions of it. In his work he places particular emphasis on the free will of the individual, as well as the expression of non-conformity and anarchy.

The pieces Necklace (2007) and Euros (2008) were both created during Zhao Zhao’s travels throughout Europe. In 2007, whilst visiting Joseph Beuys 7000 Oaks project, Zhao Zhao took a piece from one of the marker stones beside one of the trees and carved it into 35 beads, which he then strung together into a necklace. In 2008, during a visit to the Hamburger Bahnhof Gallery in Berlin, the artist stole a lead sheet from Anselm Kiefer’s Volkszählung 1991 and made it into eight euro coins. The work Euros is proof of this crime committed by Zhao Zhao and he was sued upon its exhibition. With the cooperation of the Alexander Gallery, Euros eventually entered the collection of the Hamburger Bahnhof Gallery, becoming its first Asian acquisition.