Robert Zhao Renhui

Zhao is one the most prominent artists in Singapore, having exhibited widely in his country and abroad in high-profile exhibitions and events. Renhui received his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Photography from Camberwell College of Arts and the London College of Communication respectively. His most relevant exhibitions include the Singapore Biennale 2013, President’s Young Talents 2013, The Institute of Critical Zoologists at Chapter Arts Centre (UK), Photoquai 2013, International Festival of Photography at Mineiro Museum (BR), and Engaging Perspectives at CCA (SG). Zhao works mainly in photography, but often adopts a multi-disciplinary approach by presenting images together withdocuments and objects, in order to test the principles behind the dissemination of knowledge and to challenge the ways in which we commonly receive and accept information. He has created "A Guide to the Flora and Fauna of the World," which seeks to document and reflect on the myriad of ways in which human action and intervention are slowly altering the natural world. Based on the evolutionary premise that all the living things constantly change and adapt to cope with and respond to their changing environments (or risk extinction), Zhao’s Guide presents a catalogue of curious creatures and life-forms that have evolved in often unexpected ways to cope with the stresses and pressures of a changed world. “..Zhao has created an installation titled A Guide to the Flora and Fauna of the World”, which seeks to document and reflect on the myriad ways in which human action and intervention are slowly altering the natural world. Based on the evolutionary premise that all living things constantly change and adapt to cope with and respond to their changing environments (or risk extinction), Zhao’s Guide presents a catalogue of curious creatures and life-forms that have evolved in often unexpected ways to cope with the stresses and pressures of a changed world. Other organisms documented in the installation are the results of human intervention, mutations engineered to serve various interests and purposes ranging from scientific research to the desire for ornamentation.” - Tan Siu Li, Curator, The Singapore Biennale 2013, If the World Changed