Ren Zhe Held His Biggest Exhibition in Singapore

SINGAPORE, KOMPAS — A solo exhibition by renowned Chinese sculptor Ren-Zhe is currently being held in Singapore. Featuring over 45 sculptures, it marks his largest exhibition to date—not only in terms of quantity but also scale, as his monumental works dominate the space.

Linda Ma, the President of MOCA Singapore, explained on Monday (June 23, 2025) that she chose Ren-Zhe because of the grandeur and impact of his sculptures. “When I visited Beijing, I was already captivated by his work. I invited Ren-Zhe to exhibit. In fact, his solo exhibition series began two years ago,” she said.

This exhibition, themed around the fictional characters created by Hong Kong novelist Jin Yong, is being held at the Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) and runs until August 31, 2025. Linda shared that she first encountered Ren-Zhe’s similar works upon arriving in Hong Kong, where his sculptures were displayed across three different locations.

Although she initially only saw one of his sculptures at Hong Kong Airport, its presence was striking. Many visitors queued to take photos with the piece. The experience inspired Linda to bring his works to Singapore.

“The difference is that this exhibition in Singapore is the largest in terms of both the number and size of the sculptures. Previous exhibitions featured no more than five pieces, whereas this time, medium-sized sculptures are also included,” Linda explained. She added that MOCA cannot simply hold any exhibition; it must be impactful and meaningful.

“A museum, after all, has an academic role as well. At the same time, I want artists to influence society in a positive way—bringing energy and inspiration,” she continued. Linda was further motivated by how Jin Yong’s novels have ignited enthusiasm and optimism among readers.

“For MOCA to host an exhibition, it has to be extraordinary. Ren-Zhe was also willing, considering my experience working with leading contemporary Chinese artists,” Linda added. She has previously invited many of these artists to exhibit in Indonesia as well.

Ren-Zhe expressed his excitement about the opportunity to exhibit at MOCA, located at 39 Keppel Road. He expressed gratitude to the visitors who attended. “I had the chance to share my joy. Thanks to good collaboration, this exhibition became a reality,” he said.

For Ren-Zhe, his sculptures are not merely personal expressions, but a commitment to spreading the beauty of Jin Yong’s literary world. His works breathe life and courage into these iconic wuxia characters. The exhibition offers a rare, introspective perspective on Ren-Zhe’s creations.

Each sculpture was preceded by numerous sketches and meticulous planning, culminating in what is considered his most significant and influential tour in Southeast Asia. Singapore’s art scene has now been energized with this bold presentation. The exhibition is open daily from 10:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.

Karyadi, Director of Linda Gallery, which co-organized the exhibition, emphasized that Ren-Zhe's works deserve to be showcased in Indonesia and other major cities worldwide. “His sculptures share common cultural threads with Indonesia. His roots are strong, reflecting historical connections such as the era of Genghis Khan and the Silk Road,” Karyadi said.

According to him, if Ren-Zhe's works are exhibited in Indonesia, visitors will gain insights beyond the realm of art—particularly historical perspectives. “China's relationship with Indonesia has always been strong, and I believe our bilateral ties will only deepen moving forward,” he added.

Ren-Zhe’s works are presented with thoughtful curatorial context, blending martial arts discipline with clarity of conscience. During the exhibition, he also took time to engage and interact with visitors.