Chen Zhen and the Obviousness of the Object

This article focuses on paradoxical contemporary artwork, based on the self-evidence of mundane objects in Prayer Wheel: “Money Makes the Mare Go” (Chinese Slang), created in New York in 1997 by Chen Zhen, a French-naturalized artist born in China. This installation was made using the personal experience of the artist following a trip to Tibet in 1983, which he made unwillingly. The time he spent with Tibetans changed his perspective to such a degree that he gave closer attention to everyday realities. The simplicity of this installation, firmly anchored in material triviality, requires going beyond appearances to better share its non-physical elements. Throughout his work, Chen built a genuine life project and thought pattern that he called “transexperience.”