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Robert Zhao Renhui

ROBERT ZHAO RENHUI

The Divine in the Trash Stratum ShanghART 11 January–23 February 2025 Singapore
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Press Release

ShanghART Singapore is pleased to present The Divine in theTrash Stratum, a solo exhibition by Robert Zhao Renhui featuring his latest photographic works. The exhibition highlights the profound transformations that emerge from layers of waste and decay, as the artist invites us to reimagine the relationship between humanity and nature.A series of photographs of various creatures on a fallen Albizia tree trunk welcome visitors into the space. These strange scenes depict how a site of destruction has transformed into one of regeneration and life. Mysterious images of precious gems are in fact created with remnants of human activity such as glass shards and discarded fragments, manifesting themas symbols of how forest processes and human histories intertwine.Opening 11 January 2025 ahead of Singapore Art Week, the exhibition coincides with theSingapore Art Museum’s presentation of Seeing Forest, first shown at the Singapore Pavilion at the Venice Biennale, extending Zhao’s ongoing explorations of ecological resilience.

Singaporean visual artist Robert Zhao Renhui (b. 1983) works chiefly with photography but often adopts a multi-disciplinary approach, presenting images together with documents and objects.His artistic practice investigates man’s relationship with nature, utilising convincing narratives to invoke doubts in its audience towards the concept of truth and its portrayal.He represented Singapore in their national pavilion at the 60th Venice Biennale (2024), and has exhibited globally, including solo exhibitions in Singapore, China, Japan, Australia, Italy, andU.S.A. He also participated in various photo festivals and biennales such as the First Ennova ArtBiennale, Langfang (2024); 14th Gwangju Biennale (2023); Busan Biennale 2020; SingaporeBiennale 2019; The 9th Asia Pacific Triennial of Contemporary Art, Brisbane (2018); Taipei Biennial 2018; 7th Moscow Biennale (2017); and the 20th Biennale of Sydney (2016).

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About the Artist

Singaporean visual artist Robert Zhao Renhui (b. 1983) works chiefly with photography but often adopts a multi-disciplinary approach, presenting images together with documents and objects in the form of textual and media analysis, video and photography projects. His artistic practice investigates man’s relationship with nature, utilising convincing narratives to invoke doubts in its audience towards the concept of truth and its portrayal. His works has been exhibited globally, having held solo exhibitions in Singapore, China, Japan, Australia, and Italy, as well as participating in various biennales and photo festivals.

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About the Gallery

When ShanghArt Gallery opened its doors in Shanghai in 1996, it was one of the first contemporary art galleries in China. Today, the gallery operates from two spaces in the city (West Bund and Putuo District), with additional locations in Beijing and Singapore.

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Address
9 Lock Road, 02–22
Gillman Barracks
Singapore
Singapore
Opening Hours
Wednesday – Sunday
11am – 7pm
Closed on Monday, Tuesday and Public Holidays
(1)
Singapore 9 Lock Road, 02–22, Gillman Barracks
ShanghART contemporary art gallery in Singapore
ShanghART
9 Lock Road, 02–22, Gillman Barracks, Singapore, Singapore
+65 673 495 37
http://www.shanghartgallery.com

Opening hours
Wednesday – Sunday
11am – 7pm
Closed on Monday, Tuesday and Public Holidays
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