Zhang Yibei: PLEASE NO HELMET: Longlati, Shanghai, China

Artist Zhang Yibei (b.1992, Daqing) has officially unveiled her solo exhibition “Please No Helmet” at Longlati. This marks her debut institutional solo exhibition and signifies the conclusion of Longlati’s residency program. Centring on psychological themes that she has been exploring in recent years, Zhang employed her distinctive sculptural language to construct a topological ocean park evocative of Alice in Wonderland within the space.

The title “Please No Helmet” originates from a sign Zhang acquired in Malaysia, originally intended for local shops to discourage individuals from entering while wearing helmets. She repurposed the sign for her studio entrance, humorously reminding visitors to “let down their guard.” This seemingly ineffective public directive was thus transformed into an amusing encouragement. Alongside her studies in psychoanalysis and introspective exploration of individual consciousness, Zhang delved into a series of visual explorations of defence mechanisms. From animals (such as limpets, sand dollars, and helmet urchins) to sports weapons (like fencing sabres) and personal items (including bulletproof briefcases, luxury accessories, and cosmetics), these objects all unveil the secret techniques of self-protection in nature and society. Through sculpting practices imbued with personal emotions and cross-species sentiments, Zhang scatters these objects in space based on her perception of defence levels, inviting the audience to encounter them through an unconventional exhibition path.