2025 - Zhao Zhao｜Seeds

Lin & Lin Gallery is pleased to present Zhao Zhao's solo exhibition Seeds in May. The theme of the exhibition continues the artist's gaze on natural objects, using the image of the Bodhi Tree's flower and seed as a medium to build a poetic narrative space that blends Buddhist philosophy with contemporary visual vocabulary. Zhao depicts a flourishing vision of blossoming and stocks of seeds through unrestrained and natural brushwork, transforming the vibrant vitality of the “Seeds” between bloom and decay into the symbolic meaning of “Bodhi” in the context of Zen, inviting the audience to develop a philosophical discourse on being and time in the abstract brushwork.

All the time, flowers have been an important element in still life, not only symbolizing the beauty of all nature things, but also implying a cautionary tale about the transience of life, and death. The artists devoted themselves to depicting the objective and realistic objects in a realistic point of view, whether it is a bouquet of flowers in a vase, a basket of fruit and vegetables, or the illustration of a botanical science book. However, while taking the composition and expression of light and shadow from Western still life, Zhao's Seeds is no longer simply a representation of natural objects, but is further transformed into a more visual tension and a symbol with cultural metaphors.

“Blossom under microscope” and “bright red bouquet on the dark circumstance” are common elements in Zhao's latest work. The delicate and colorful flowers, the red blossoms in various poses, and the seeds surrounding them contrast with the dark background, leading the audience's sight to roam back and forth between the objects. In addition, the outlines of Seeds originally being recognized are gradually formed into blurred, grayish color blocks. The figurative objects are turned into abstract symbols through certain raffish and causal brushwork, the artist depicts the changes of all things, revealing the symbol of impermanence underneath “Bodhi”-- Form is emptiness.

Whatever the themes of "Peach," "Flower," "Peach and Grapes," or "Seeds" in this exhibition, Zhao continues his narrative logic by employing a unique visual vocabulary that responds to how still life explore the question of eternal life and the decay of death. At the same time, by reinterpreting the image of “Bodhi” through the perspective of Zen philosophy—highlighting the juxtaposition of flourishing, decay, and newborn—he presents a profound dialogue about watching, inner awareness, and cycle of nature and life.

Zhao Zhao, born in Xinjiang, China, 1982. Now he works and lives in Beijing and Los Angeles. His provocative, multidisciplinary artist practice has garnered him international attention in recent years, includes solo shows in galleries such as Long Museum (Shanghai, China), Carl Kostyál foundation (Stockholm, Sweden), Song Art Museum (Beijing, China), Nanchizi Museum (Beijing, China), Today Art Museum (Beijing, China), Museu de Arte de Macau (Macau, China), Alexander Ochs Galleries (Berlin, Germany), Roberts & Tilton (Log Angeles, USA), Chambers Fine Art (New York, USA), Mizuma Art Gallery (Tokyo, Japan ), Lin & Lin Gallery (Taipei), Tang Contemporary Art ( Beijing, China ), CAAW ( Beijing, China ). He has received the support from many international institutions, among which are listed MOMA PS1 - The Museum of Modern Art (New York, USA), Tampa Museum of Art (Florida, USA), Pinchuk Art Centre (Kiev, Ukraine) , Groninger Museum (Groningen, Netherlands), Museum of Asian Art (Berlin, Germany), Collection of Hamburg Bahnhof Museum in Berlin (Berlin, Germany), Padiglione D’Arte Contemporanea (Milan, Italy), MAXXI Museum (Rome, Italy), Tiroche DeLeon Art Collection (Paris, France), Premi internacional d’art contemporani diputació de castelló (Castelló, Spain), White Rabbit Gallery (Sydney, Australia), M+westKowloon (Hong Kong, China), Minsheng Art Museum (Beijing, China), UCCA Center for Contemporary Art (Beijing, China), New Century Art Foundation (Beijing, China), Taikang Art Museum (Beijing, China), Luxelakes•A4 Art Museum(Chengdu, China), Minsheng Art Museum (Shanghai, China), Museum of Contemporary Art (Shanghai, China), Star ArtMuseum (Shanghai, China), Ming Contemporary Art Museum (Shanghai, China), Yuz Museum (Shanghai, China), Tianjin Art Museum (Tianjin, China), Hubei Museum of Art (Wuhan,China), He Xiangning Museum (Shenzhen, China), Wanlin Art Museum (Wuhan, China) and NOW IS THE TIME - 2019 Wuzhen Contemporary Art Exhibition (Zhejiang, China). Zhao also released a number of collaboration with brands such as Louis Vuitton, Land Rover, NIKE, VANS, Venvennet, etc. Additionally, he won the Thirteenth AAC Artist of the Year Award in 2019; in 2017, he also obtained the award nomination of Chinese annual young artist in 11th ACC (Award of Art China). In 2014, Zhao Zhao was listed as one of the Modern Painters “25 Artists to Watch”.