Zhang Huang is one of the greatest and perhaps most popular controversial artists in contemporary China. He first started making a name for himself in the mids thanks to his performances, many of which have frequently been regarded as too punishing. Case in point, some of his more popular performances featured him naked and covered in insects. Other performances saw him coated in seeds before being pelted with pieces of bread by the participating audience, wearing a suit made from raw meat or his whole face painted black. The majority of his installations are inspired by both political and spiritual messages. As a result, his work has often brought him into loggerheads with the Chinese authorities, but it is his willingness to push boundaries with his artistic expression that has made him so successful.