“Genesis: God’s Terrarium” presents eight new paintings and sculptures including a larger-than-life-sized sculpture of Adam and Eve rendered in stainless steel chrome finish. “God’s Terrarium” is a term Jahan used to describe Earth – a garden planet or biosphere where genetically engineered humanoids contained the DNA of the Gods.
The paintings depict eight different scenes of Eden, with Adam and Eve embracing each other and seemingly swirling in harmony. However, chaos continues after creation, and Eve’s dialogue with the serpent is represented by an explosive mask of jagged deconstructed Chinese characters that reads “创世纪” (genesis), a manifestation of chaos and inner turmoil. Here, Jahan references the religious personages of God’s children Adam and Eve and harkens back to Renaissance religious art iconography. Yet the pop cultural imagery and reference to Adam and Eve as extra-terrestrial beings or “alien” is a creative turn that draws from the artist’s interest in the work of Jack Kirby, Asian manga and western comics.
This project is a culmination of the last five years, reflecting Jahan’s preoccupation with existentialism and a glimpse into his inner mind and vivid imagination surrounding the time of Man’s Creation and the Garden of Eden before Man’s expulsion.
Venue: The Culture Story, 2 Leng Kee Road, #03-06 Thye Hong Centre, Singapore 159086
When: 17 Jan - 18 Mar 2018, Tuesday to Saturday: 10am - 6pm