rick & book
LI ZHENZHONG
SOLO EXHIBITION IN hubei, china
"Rice & Book"
by Li Zhenzhong
As someone born in Hunan, rice holds a profound significance for me. It is more than just a staple crop—it is a lived experience. From sowing the seeds and transplanting the seedlings to the backbreaking labor of the "double rush" harvest during the transition between the two rice-growing seasons, I have personally witnessed the arduous process of grain cultivation. Even within the joys of childhood, these memories remain weighty and indelible.
Today, in my hometown, people have almost ceased growing rice. Perhaps cultivation has shifted to regions with higher yields and greater agricultural concentration. But in an era of rapid urbanization, where more and more people are drawn into city life, do they still possess an awareness of the most fundamental sustenance for survival? At times, I ask myself: is such an awareness truly necessary?
I believe it is. I have always thought that only when confronted with the most basic questions of survival can one perceive the essence of things with greater clarity. Such awareness may spark reflection, foster appreciation, or compel a reassessment of the hard-won conditions that sustain human existence.
As for books, I immerse them in ink, rendering them unreadable, their knowledge inaccessible. In this act, I question the significance of complete knowledge and its dissemination in today's digital, AI-driven era. Should we not reexamine and rethink its value?
By juxtaposing these two essential elements—rice as sustenance for the body and books as nourishment for the mind—I hope to create a direct sensory experience for the viewer, both visually and tactilely. Through this interplay, I wish to evoke new reflections, prompting deeper contemplation on the fundamental pillars of human existence.
Amid an unprecedentedly complex survival landscape, we question meaning while endlessly extracting resources.
Agriculture, industry, and technology intertwine to shape modern civilization—is development the ultimate goal, or have we overlooked a deeper pursuit?
In the tide of civilization, what core values must we uphold, and what profound unresolved issues must we confront?”
artist
Li Zhenzhong
Male, born in 1985 in Hunan, China Working and living in Guangzhou ， Hong Kong
2007 Graduated from the Guangzhou Academy of Fine Arts，Senior Seminar
Solo exhibition：
2023 "Call of the Wild " in Hubei
2020 "Wind of Time " in Guangzhou
2017 "Explained Blue" in Paris
2014 "Spring Drunken" in Guangzhou
Double Exhibition:
2024 “Play Ground” London, U.K
“Inner World” London, U.K
2023 Why the Yangtze River-yangtze River Culture Digital Exhibition
Lustful "graph" Double exhibition in Guangzhou
2022 " Eager to life " Double exhibition , in Guangzhou
2020 Seoul International Art Exhibition Joint Exhibition, in Seoul
"Out of Hu Nan" Double exhibition, in Dongguan
2019 ART CAPITAL, in Paris France
"Dwell" Double exhibition, in Shanghai
2018 "A＋" Double exhibition, in Guangdong
2016 "Shock East shock West" Double exhibition, in France
2015 "Organization of production" Double exhibition, in Guangdong Museum of Art
2014 "Season: time, narrative and contemporary vision" ,in Guangdong Contemporary Art Center
"Nature and burn" Joint exhibition, in Beijing
"See the mountains but not water" Double exhibition, in Guangdong Center for Contemporary Art
"Bit • sequence" Experimental Art Space Double Exhibition, in Guangzhou
2013 <Storyboard>Trio Exhibition, in Guangzhou
"Arts want Utopia"-contemporary manifestations of Youth Art Exhibition, in Guangzhou
2012 Youth Art Exhibition of Guangdong, in Guangzhou
First National Youth Art Exhibition, in Shenzhen
2011 Fourth Contemporary Oil Painting Exhibition of Guangdong Province, in Guangdong Museum of Art
Important Collections:
White Rabbit Gallery of Australia;
Raffarin Foundation；
55 Gallery in France；
Guangdong Contemporary Art Center.