Chinese-born French novelist, dramatist, and artist. Gao Xingjian’s writings reflect
his views as a political activist and supporter of human rights. His work combines
Zen philosophy with a modern outlook and reflects the personal struggles of his
people in the context of Chinese history. His works are banned in China, including
the acclaimed novel Soul Mountain (1989), describing a mystic search through the
southern and southwestern provinces of China, searching for personal freedom,
roots, and inner peace. He received the Nobel Prize for Literature in 2000 for his
‘oeuvre of universal validity, bitter insights, and linguistic ingenuity, which has
opened new paths for the Chinese novel and drama’. He is the first Chinese person
to receive a Nobel Prize for Literature.
Gao Xingjian was declared persona non grata in China and all works banned after he
published his play Fugitives, based on the massacre of student demonstrators in
Beijing’s Tiananmen Square in 1989. He has written critical essays, short stories,
translations, and books on the techniques of drama and fiction. He is also a painter
who produces cover illustrations for his books and has had more than 30
international exhibitions.