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.
The carp, known for their ability to improve water quality, was introduced to various countries around the world. However, its strong adaptability and astonishing reproductive rate has led to severe ecological imbalances. 150 year 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 where they quickly spread as a pest across southeastern Australian waterways. For the artist, the carp becomes a metaphor for the immigrant experience, natural ecology, and social identity.
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 a sense of "magical realism". The artist further places the simulated carp into industrial cans—a gesture suspended between protection and confinement—prompting us to consider: when life is sealed, is it being preserved or being 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 and present. The carp is no longer merely a natural creature but a medium for viewers' self-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
