Singapore Art Museum (SAM) has been commissioned by the National Arts Council (NAC) to organise the Singapore Pavilion and is pleased to announce the appointment of Singaporean artist Robert Zhao Renhui and curator Haeju Kim as the artistic team for the 2024 Venice Biennale.
Zhao’s practice explores the complex relationships between nature and culture. Working in installation, photography, video and sculpture, Zhao takes an interdisciplinary approach to constructing layered narratives of the natural world, with an interest in uncovering the experiences of the multifarious beings and objects that constitute the living world and enrich our collective existence.
For the Singapore Pavilion, Zhao turns his gaze towards secondary forests and neglected pockets of greenery amid Singapore’s mostly urban environment. Rooted around the pressing global topic of the Anthropocene to the environment, the immersive, interdisciplinary installation is envisioned as an exploration of secondary forests and their potential as key sites of regeneration and regrowth.
Kim’s curatorial approach emphasises the consideration of the body, time and memory as key elements, while also engaging with topics including ecological perspectives, locality and its planetary connection, and questions of coexistence through her research. Collectively, Zhao and Kim’s shared research synergies reimagine the possibilities of mutual co-existence, multi-species flourishing and more connected ways of being in our precarious present; and through the Singapore Pavilion, provide a vision for life and regeneration for a more ecologically minded future.
Eugene Tan, Co-Chair of the Commissioning Panel and Director of SAM, says, “The strength and trajectory of Zhao’s artistic practice and research has convinced the Commissioning Panel of his ability to present a thought-provoking presentation that speaks to contemporary global issues. We are heartened that Kim, a Senior Curator at SAM, has been approached by Zhao to support his endeavour in Venice. As SAM continues to present resonant works that push artistic boundaries, the artistic team’s pursuit of challenging exhibitionary norms puts them in good stead to best represent Singapore at the Biennale Arte 2024.”
Low Eng Teong, Co-Chair of the Commissioning Panel and Chief Executive Officer of NAC, adds, “This is Singapore’s 11th presentation at the Biennale Arte. We are excited for this opportunity to present art that reflects our times, sparks conversations and positions us on this international platform. As NAC continues to propel generations of artists on the international stage, we are excited to be working with SAM to champion our artistic talents and provide them with a platform to present and engage with international audiences. NAC looks forward to further establishing Singapore as a key arts and culture node for artistic practices, as we bring forth inclusivity, vibrancy and opportunities in the arts.”
Robert Zhao Renhui is an interdisciplinary Singaporean artist who has won accolades for his artistic practice. Zhao was featured in the 10th Busan Biennale (2020), 6th Singapore Biennale (2019), 9th Asia Pacific Triennial of Contemporary Art (2018), 11th Taipei Biennale (2018), 17th Jakarta Biennale (2017), and 20th Biennale of Sydney (2016). Most recently, he was invited to participate in the 14th Gwangju Biennale (2023), and held a solo exhibition at the ShanghART Shanghai in March 2023.
Haeju Kim is a Senior Curator at SAM who focuses on contemporary art practices in Singapore, Southeast Asia and Asia. Previously the Deputy Director at Art Sonje Center, Kim holds deep experience in curating numerous contemporary art exhibitions and performance programmes across various disciplines. She was most recently the Artistic Director for Busan Biennale 2022. Other exhibitions curated by Kim include two solo exhibitions by Shitamichi Motoyuki (A ship went up that hill, 2022) and Manon de Boer (Down Time, 2022) at Kunsthal Aarhus, Denmark, as well as Moving/Image, a three-chapter exhibition and performance programme that was presented at Seoul Art Space Mullae (2016), ARKO Art Center (2017) and Seoul Museum of Art (2020).
For more information, please visit bit.ly/SingaporePavilion-VB2024.
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