The Culture Story is pleased to announce the currentbsolo exhibition“Genesis: God’s Terrarium” by Jahan Loh. This exhibition marks Jahan’s return to showcase in Singapore after a four-year hiatus since 2013.
“Genesis: God’s Terrarium” presents eight new paintings, limited edition prints and sculptures which include a larger-than-life-sized sculpture of Adam and Eve rendered in bronze and silver finish. “Terrarium of the Gods” is a term Jahan used to describe Earth – a garden planet or biosphere where genetically engineered humanoids contained the DNA of the Gods.
The paintings depict eight different scenes of Eden, with Adam and Eve embracing each other and seemingly swirling in harmony. However, chaos continues after creation, and Eve’s dialogue with the serpent is represented by an explosive mask of jagged deconstructed Chinese characters that reads “创世纪” (genesis), a manifestation of chaos and inner turmoil. Here, Jahan references the religious personages of God’s children Adam and Eve and harkens back to Renaissance religious art iconography. Yet the pop cultural imagery and reference to Adam and Eve as extra-terrestrial beings or “alien” is a creative turn that draws from the artist’s interest in the work of Jack Kirby, Asian manga and western comics.
This project is a culmination of the last three years, reflecting Jahan’s preoccupation with existentialism and a glimpse into his inner mind and vivid imagination surrounding the time of Man’s Creation and the Garden of Eden before Man’s expulsion.
About Jahan Loh
Born in 1976, Jahan Loh is Singapore’s leading Pop artist and one of Asia’s most successful street artists. His oeuvre revolves around street art and pop iconography and has exhibited internationally in New York, Melbourne, Beijing, Shanghai, Taipei, Hong Kong and Singapore.
Over the last decade, Jahan had successful collaborations with major lifestyle brands in China, Singapore and Taiwan, such as Vans, Casio’s G-SHOCK, Adidas and PUMA. In 2016, he completed two site-specific murals for the new ZOUK Club at Clarke Quay. Recently, Subcrew presented “STASH x Jahan Outside-In” at Yo’hood, Shanghai – China’s premier street wear fair, where Jahan collaborated with popular New York street legend STASH for a live showcase.
Influenced by graffiti artists from the 1970s and 1980s in New York, coupled with a deep immersion in the international phenomenon of Hollywood sci-fi, comic books and Asian manga and anime culture, Jahan has truly brought Singapore Pop art into the international limelight.
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EXHIBITION INFORMATION
Exhibition Dates: 17 January – 18 March 2018 (visit by-appointment)
Exhibition catalogue includes an essay by Michelle Ho, Director of NTU Art Design Media Gallery, Singapore.
Please contact us for more information on available works.
