Orange County Art Museum, LA, USA

21/9/19 - 15/3/20

Robert Zhao Renhui’s exhibition exposes the contradiction inherent in our relationship with nature by exploring perceptions of both the fly and the butterfly. While the fly is seen as a nuisance, the butterfly is perceived as a beautiful creature and symbol of transformation. Through the use of lures, traps and pheromones, Zhao demonstrates the countless methods humans have invented to control insect populations, stemming from a dismissive attitude that belies their necessity. In contrast, his photographs of Monarch butterflies highlight their unique status as an insect to be protected.