Genesis: God’s Terrarium by Jahan Loh
Presented by The Culture Story
17 January—18 March 2018
The Culture Story presented “Genesis: God’s Terrarium” by Jahan Loh, one of Singapore’s leading pop artists, marking his return after a four-year hiatus.
The exhibition showcased eight new paintings, limited-edition prints, and sculptures, including a larger-than-life bronze and silver-finished depiction of Adam and Eve. Loh described Earth as a “Terrarium of the Gods”—a garden planet where genetically engineered humanoids carry the DNA of the Gods.
The paintings depicted eight scenes of Eden, with Adam and Eve embracing in fluid harmony. Yet, chaos followed creation, symbolised by Eve’s encounter with the serpent. A fragmented explosion of Chinese characters reading “创世纪” (Genesis) represented the turmoil of that moment. Loh drew from Renaissance religious iconography, but his interpretation took a bold turn—reimagining Adam and Eve as extraterrestrial beings, influenced by pop culture, Jack Kirby’s cosmic storytelling, Asian manga, and Western comics.
This project was the culmination of three years of exploration, offering a glimpse into Loh’s existential musings and vivid imagination surrounding Man’s Creation and the Garden of Eden before expulsion.
The exhibition catalogue included an essay by Michelle Ho, Director of NTU Art Design Media Gallery, Singapore.