Zhou Xiaoping, born and educated in China, is a Melbourne-based artist. Having completed his fine art degree at the Anhui College of Education in 1986, he came to Australia in 1988 and soon visited Alice Springs. Since then he has spent many periods in Aboriginal communities in Arnhem Land and the Kimberley. In 1992 Zhou was artist in residence at the Maningrida Community School. Four years later, his collaboration with the late Jimmy Pike resulted in the first exhibition of Aboriginal art work in China at Jiu Lu Mi Art Museum in Hefei. In January 1999 the two artists exhibited jointly at the National Gallery of China, Beijing. In 2000 he made two very large scrolls for the City of Greater Dandenong. In 2002 From China to Arnhem Land and Beyond showed at the Chinese Museum, Melbourne and the Ballarat Fine Art Gallery, Ballarat. In 2011 Zhou’s work was exhibited with that of the late Johnny Bulunbulun in Trepang, China & the Story of Macassan – Aboriginal Trade at the Melbourne Museum, the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory and the Capital Museum, Beijing. Since immigrating Zhou has had 36 solo exhibitions locally and internationally, and published two books in China about his experiences living and working in Aboriginal communities. He has worked as artist in residence at the Bendigo Golden Dragon Museum and many schools including Melbourne Grammar School. His work is represented in the Museum & Art Gallery of the Northern Territory; the Art Gallery of Ballarat; the Golden Dragon Museum, Bendigo; the Museum of Chinese Australian History, Melbourne; the Maningrida Community Education Centre; and the Kerry Stokes Collection. Zhou’s art and life in outback Australia is the subject of the widely-screened 2012 documentary film Ochre and Ink, its title a reference to his characteristic use of mixed media as well as to his cross-cultural practice.
