Chinese artist Zhang Huan has gone through a few different periods in his career, from the grotesque early performance art that made his name to his more recent incense ash drawings and enormous Buddhist sculptures. But his latest piece, installed at Shanghai’s Rockbund Art Museum, might be the most bizarre of all.

His exhibition at the museum, entitled “Q Confucius,” features a collection of strange Confucius installations (the philosopher, of course, is one of the bedrocks of Chinese thought). One particular work features a robotic Confucius enclosed in a cage with nine monkeys. Robo-Confucius swings around on his pedestal like a reed swaying in the wind, or less poetically, an animatronic breakdancer. Check out the video below:

Confucius’s hair swings and his robes flow wildly. We’re not exactly sure what the metaphor is here, but if we had to guess, it would be something about being buffeted by the winds of generational time yet remaining ever upright. Possibly Confucius just wanted to get his groove on.

Also included in the exhibition is a giant photorealistic bust of Confucius (we’re talking the height of a gallery ceiling) sunk into a shallow pool of water. The robotic bust slowly inhales and exhales — the overall effect is like you’re intruding on Confucius’s spa time.

So, WTF is this show? Has Zhang Huan finally jumped the robotic Confucius? Only time will tell if the artist has anything even stranger up his sleeve. [CNET]

Tags: China, Chinese Art, Zhang Huan