Evidence of Things Not Seen: An investigation into Robert Zhao’s artistic practice

Evidence of Things Not Seen, presented by ShanghART Singapore, is a showcase of art books, archival materials, and documentation of past projects outlining Robert Zhao Renhui’s artistic practice spanning nearly two decades. Coinciding with his representation of Singapore at the ongoing 60th Venice Biennale, this presentation offers an unprecedented overview of his career leading up to the solo presentation of Seeing Forest at the Singapore Pavilion in Venice.

The showcase delves into the artist’s diverse projects, transforming the gallery space into a physical repository of his career milestones, including the founding of the Institute of Critical Zoologists (ICZ) and his ventures into the secondary forests in Singapore. Evidence of Things Not Seen guides visitors through the highlights of Zhao’s practice, gathering past exhibitions, interviews, media features, publications, and research materials to offer a comprehensive review of his thematic explorations and conceptual development.

Bookmaking, an essential part of Zhao’s practice, signifies deep dives into different subjects and phases of his career. The exhibition presents numerous publications created by Zhao and various collaterals from past projects. Visitors will also have the opportunity to have a first look of the new catalogue produced for Seeing Forest.

In response to the strong interest in his practice garnered from his participation in the Venice Biennale, this exhibition strives to provide a comprehensive overview of his artistic journey, from his interest in photography as a tool for storytelling, to constructing narrative-rich universe through installations inspired by “cabinet of curiosities” and exploring secondary forests for unseen aspects of the human-nature relationship.