WANG Sicheng: [Genesis and Future: Insights from Photosynthesizers]

ARARIO GALLERY Shanghai is pleased to present a solo exhibition of recent works by WANG Sicheng, titled Genesis and Future: Insights from Photosynthesizers, on view from May 12th to June 17th, 2023. The exhibition features the newest series of works by WANG Sicheng, ranging from installation to small-scale paintings, that have emerged as a creative practice in exploring the relationship between the past, present, and future through a variety of ideologies and technologies. Additionally, the exhibition is also in collaboration with Lun SHI (Architect) and ACE Lab with special thanks to the advisor at Chinese Academy of Science for their support in academics and research.

Taking inspiration from the ancient existence of photosynthetic organisms, the exhibition Genesis and Future: Insights from Photosynthesizers invites the audience to reflect on the beginning of life (Genesis) and the forthcoming future (Future), contemplating how human activities have contributed to the development of the environment since the dawn of human history in the context of the synergistic evolution of life and environmental issues, and the sustainability of ecosystems.

Genesis: The existence of photosynthetic organisms can be traced back to the beginning of life on Earth. They are a group of organisms with the unique ability to synthesize or decompose organic matter by converting light energy into chemical energy through the process of photosynthesis. As the earliest forms of life on Earth, they synthesized organic matter and released oxygen through photosynthesis, which eventually led to an increase in the amount of oxygen in the atmosphere on Earth, creating favorable conditions for the later evolution of life in all its complexity and diversity.

Future: Amidst worsening environmental problems, photosynthetic organisms provide mankind with an alternative source of energy to fossil fuels. They also contribute to mitigating climate change and reducing air pollution in light of global warming by sequestering carbon. In addition, using photosynthetic organisms as a tool to provide solutions for agricultural production as well as food safety is also an avenue that could be explored through the research and application of photosynthetic organisms, as they are also capable of regulating their photosynthetic efficiency.

Present: In conjunction with the Project Space at Arario Gallery Shanghai, the work "Beginning and Future" is an on-site specific installation, utilizing the structure of the "Light Cone" to facilitate the incubation of photosynthetic bacteria and algae as the biological materials for this installation, which is a reflection on current global warming and energy crises. This work aims to engage the audience in dialogue and discuss various methods of combining art with life science expression. The artist hopes to encourage people to pay more attention to environmental issues, global warming, and other subjects that deserve our attention.

Collaborator: Lun SHI(Architect), ACE Lab

Scientific Advisor: Chengchi FANG (Ph.D. Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences)

Special Thanks: Freshwater Algae Cultural Collection at the Institute of Hydrobiology