Mizuho Fujita | Field Note / Kyoto: Robert Zhao Renfui 'After Control'
This article introduces the solo exhibition 'After Control' by Singaporean artist Robert Zhao Renfui and explores the relationship between humans and nature through fieldwork.Summary
Singaporean artist Robert Zhao Renfui creates works based on long-term observations, focusing on how other creatures live in environments shaped by human activity. His solo exhibition 'After Control' is currently on view at Kyoto City University of the Arts Gallery @KCUA until July 12, 2026. The article details the exhibition's content and the discoveries made during fieldwork in Kyoto. Renfui reflects on the definition of 'nature,' observing that true 'nature' is rare on Earth due to human control. Through the project 'Christmas Island, Naturally,' he examines the results of human management efforts to preserve ecosystems and the creatures living within them. During the fieldwork, the author and participants visited Takase River, Shosen-en Garden, and Takaragaike Park, discovering various creatures in areas rarely visited by humans. A particularly memorable discovery was a butterfly trapped inside a bottle in the forest. Renfui later shared a photo of the empty bottle, sparking reflections on the invisible passage of time and the beauty of creatures that exist outside human perception. The article concludes by discussing how Renfui's perspective on 'After Control' encourages a flexible approach to adaptation, leading to new discoveries.
(Source：artscape)