Don't Miss Ren Zhe's Most Comprehensive and Rare Exhibition in Jakarta

wartalentera.com - 13 October 2025

Ren Zhe Sculptures at Townhall, IDD, PIK 2

WARTALENTERA—Don't miss Ren Zhe's most comprehensive and rare exhibition in Jakarta. More than 50 masterpieces by the phenomenal Chinese artist Ren Zhe are currently on display at Townhall, Indonesia Design District (IDD), PIK 2, until October 19, 2025.

For collectors and art enthusiasts, don't miss this rare opportunity, as this exhibition is the most comprehensive in the world! The exhibition, themed "A Path to Glory," showcases the most complete collection of Ren Zhe's sculptures, not only in Indonesia but also worldwide!

This exhibition is even more special because the sculptor, who is among the top five most respected artists in China, presents a series of sculptures inspired by characters from the works of author Jin Yong. Yes, this exhibition is dominated by Ren Zhe's works as part of a series of events commemorating the 100th anniversary of the birth of Jin Yong, the Hong Kong-based wuxia literary maestro whose works have become legendary across generations.

If you are familiar with Jin Yong's trilogy "The Legend of the Condor Heroes," "The Return of the Condor Heroes," and "The Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber," you will surely recognize the various characters in these legendary works. The stories of these warriors are presented beautifully and aesthetically. Ren Zhe is able to highlight these characters in his various bronze and stainless steel sculptures.

The muscle tone and character of each figure can transport viewers to their childhood and youth, when they read martial arts comics and watched the series. From the beginning, the author, through the Jin Yong Foundation, chose Ren Zhe as the only artist allowed to transform his characters into works of art.

They were confident that Ren Zhe could "bring back to life" these characters in phenomenal sculptures. The characters created by Jin Yong are constantly tested between personal ambition, family honor, and universal values.

Ren Zhe captures this essence in great detail in his work, heroic figures that not only display physical strength, but also their humanity.  Visitors to the exhibition hall are amazed to see a 2-3 meter tall statue, positioned holding a bow, representing the character Guo Jing (Kwee Ceng).

Next to him stands a statue of a woman on horseback, who is presumably his wife, the character Huang Rong (Oey Yong), riding a horse no less than 2.5 meters tall. There are also figures of "Yang Guo" (Yo Ko) and "Xiaolongnu" (Siauw Liong Lie) expressing their love.

Yo Ko's right hand is missing, leaving his sleeve empty. Meanwhile, the slender Bibi Lung waits with her veil.

The sculptor skillfully arranged the sculptures like a static drama or theatrical performance. The characters in Yong's series of novels are depicted with muscular bodies in line with the imagination of readers or viewers who have seen the television or film versions.

"This exhibition is a spiritual journey. Ren Zhe is not literally copying Jin Yong's characters, but rather bringing their spirit to life in a contemporary form. It gives us space to reflect on the true meaning of glory," explained Linda Ma, owner of Linda's Gallery, when met during the exhibition.

Through a series of monumental sculptures by Ren Zhe, visitors are invited to trace the heroism, moral values, and wisdom that emanate from Jin Yong's universe, especially the stories in the Condor Heroes Trilogy. "This is the most comprehensive exhibition of Ren Zhe's works on Jin Yong's characters. We have exhibited Ren Zhe's works in Singapore, but not as comprehensively as now. So collectors and art lovers must come here, because this is a very rare opportunity," said Linda.

As the only art gallery entrusted to exhibit Ren Zhe's works, the owner of Linda's Gallery in Jakarta, Singapore, and Beijing said she was proud. "Visitors can feel the positive energy from the artist's works, as well as nostalgia for Jin Yong's legendary works. The theme 'A Path To Glory' that our gallery carries is not just a slogan, but a deep reflection on how sculpture can resonate with literature," she added.

A Brief Profile of Jin Yong and Ren Zhe

Jin Yong, or Louis Cha (1924–2018), was the most influential wuxia writer in the history of modern Chinese literature. He wrote 15 martial arts novels that have sold hundreds of millions of copies, been translated into more than a dozen languages, and been adapted into more than 130 films and television series since "The Legend of the Condor Heroes" (1958) to the present.

In China, almost every generation is familiar with his work. This year, the centenary of his birth is being commemorated with various major events in China, especially in his hometown of Haining, Zhejiang. In Indonesia, this spirit is present through the medium of contemporary art with the Ren Zhe exhibition.

Meanwhile, the artist, Ren Zhe, is one of the most prominent young sculptors in China today. A graduate of the Tsinghua Academy of Fine Arts, Beijing, he is known for his ability to blend traditional Eastern aesthetics with global contemporary sensibilities.

In his work, Ren Zhe uses modern materials to bring to life classical values such as courage, generosity, respect, and honesty, which are core values in Confucian philosophy. For Indonesians, who have long been familiar with Chinese popular culture through martial arts films, TV dramas, and comics, this exhibition offers a new experience, reinterpreting Jin Yong through the three-dimensional visual language of sculpture.