HUMAN NATURE

From explorations of history, nature and identity to multidisciplinary presentations, the artistic practices of Robert Zhao Renhui, Priyageetha Dia and Ezzam Rahman challenge perception and provoke introspection, making them some of the most promising artists working in Singapore today 

- Hashirin Nurin Hashimi, Aun Koh and Nafeesa Saini

ROBERT ZHAO RENHUI

Dusk is falling in Choa Chu Kang as we make our way to the void deck of one of the HDB blocks in the neighbourhood for a bird-watching activity led by artist Robert Zhao Renhui. A torrential downpour puts a damper on our spirits, but it slows to a drizzle by the time we arrive at our destination. With our eyes peeled to the skies, we are looking to spot a massive flurry of parrots coming to roost in the trees lining the road in front of us.

For the past decade, these long-tailed parakeets have been flocking to Choa Chu Kang. “Even though no one knows why, it’s an example of how a species of birds has formed a symbiotic relationship with urban Singapore,” says Zhao. Due to the inclement weather, the artist himself is unsure if we will spot the birds, even though he has been observing and capturing such phenomena on video and soundscape recordings—and for a number of years now at this particular spot.

This is Zhao in his element. While he is not an ecologist by profession (even though he frequently collaborates with one), his interdisciplinary practice explores the complex relationships between nature and culture. Through installation, photography, sculpture and video, he constructs layered narratives, while looking at the multifarious beings and objects within the natural world, offering insights on human and non-human coexistence.