Hu Qiren – All That Glitters (Curated by Gillian Daniel)

Hu Qiren’s third solo exhibition, All That Glitters explores visual language and the ways that it is used in the expression of the self.

Presenting 8 new mixed media works, Qiren uncovers the familiar icons that make up his Singapore. In the articulation of the polished personas that the Lion City strives to project, official icons like the Merlion are so often put to work. But a look below the surface reveals vernacular icons such as 愷탬 (or “Four Colour Cards”) and the white singlet, which are deeply rooted in Qiren’s own familial and community histories. These personal references speak to the in-jokes and shared memories that make up the beating heart of a place. Regardless of their source, Qiren finds droll humor in the way these symbols reflect individual and collective experiences of life in Singapore, which can be at once hyper-global and engineered to precision, as well as remarkably local and idiosyncratic. In this sleek and playful exhibition, Qiren layers these visual references to create a composite picture of self and place.

Ultimately a love letter to the city where Qiren lives and works, All That Glitters dwells on the joy and expansiveness that becomes possible in the embracing of all versions of the self. The exhibition is curated by Gillian Daniel.

Hu Qiren (b.1983, Singapore) is a visual artist, educator, and administrator, whose practice investigates the myriad forms of imaging making, incorporating a wide range of media, including photography, video, installation, and performance. Expressing a vibrant visual vocabulary inspired by his own identity and tradition, Qiren synthesizes cultural binaries, while incessantly challenging notions of authenticity, belief, and value systems.

After completing his studies in Photography and Digital Imaging at the School of Art, Design and Media, Nanyang Technological University of Singapore in 2012, Qiren obtained a scholarship the following year to further his education in Fine Arts at Parsons The New School for Design. During his time in New York, he apprenticed under the tutelage of Hiroshi Sugimoto for more than 5 years before he returned to his native country, Singapore.

He has showcased his works at international galleries, institutions, and festivals including the One World Trade Center, Queens Museum, Aperture Foundation, Louvre Museum, National Museum of Singapore, National Gallery Singapore, Singapore International Photography Festival, and ART SG. In 2016, Qiren was the grand winner of the Harper’s BAZAAR Art Prize.