BOOTH i 03
REDBASE is proudly representing Shen Shaomin 沈少民 at this year's Sydney Contemporary. Known for his exciting installations, hundreds of mechanical carps will illustrate the consequences of human desire and artificiality.
Known for their ability to improve water quality, the carp was introduced to various countries around the world. However, its aggressive adaptability and astonishing reproductive rate has led to severe ecological imbalances. 150 years ago, the carp were released into Australia as food source, which has become a cause of concern since the 1960s after they escaped into the Murray Darling River. From here, they quickly spread as a pest across southeastern Australian waterways. The carp then becomes a metaphor for the human invasiveness into the natural order of things.
The Carp is the national fish of China, where they symbolise good fortune, happiness, and resilience in traditional culture. Yet on an ecological level, it takes on a complex contradiction. In this exhibition, the artist uses electronics and simulated silicone to construct a large-scale installation made up of hundreds of mechanical carp. Their faint breathing and subtle struggles place them between simulation and reality, creating an ecological warning.
The artist seals the simulated carp into industrial cans, a gesture suspended between protection and confinement. It prompts us to consider: when life is commodified, is it being preserved or dissolved? Through this act of reconstruction and displacement, the artist reflects on the ongoing degradation of the natural ecosystem and makes a cautionary tale about the relationship between humanity and nature.
In this work, the “Chinese Carp” is more than just a biological symbol. Within the structures of globalization, digitization, and consumerism, it is transformed into a cultural metaphor that bridges the past, present, and future. The carp is no longer merely a natural creature but a medium for viewers political projection. When the ocean deteriorates into a salt flat, the carp transforms into a “salted fish” that leaves natural waters and enters the realm of industrial production as it is sealed and labelled to become a standardized consumer product.
11 - 14 September, 2025
Sydney, Australia
