Frieze Sculpture: In the Shadows: Last of the Wild and Free (Rhododendron Calophytum) by Timur Si-Qin

17 September - 2 November 2025
  • Timur Si-Qin presents Last of the Wild and Free (Rhododendron Calophytum), a monumental bonsai tree for Frieze Sculpture 2025: In...
    Timur Si-Qin presents Last of the Wild and Free (Rhododendron Calophytum), a monumental bonsai tree for Frieze Sculpture 2025: In the Shadows. Drawing from over a decade of rich artistic practice across various media and guided by a profound respect for nature, Si-Qin’s sculpture continues to delve into urgent themes at the intersection of ecology, culture, and spirituality. This latest work reflects his enduring commitment to exploring the intricate relationships between biodiversity, cultural diversity, and indigenous wisdom centred on the natural world and its conservation. 
     
    This exhibition imagines the shadow not as an ominous portent but as a creative and generative space where memory, material and myth intersect. The selected artists engage with shadows both as an idea and a literal physical phenomenon, exploring themes such as ecological absence, traces of ancestry, bodily imprints and sculptural metaphors.
  • Si-Qin reimagines the bonsai—a traditional symbol of cultivated nature and balance—as an all-metallic form that illuminates the complex dialogue between human agency, technology, and the environment. The immaculately formed branches trace unseen currents of energy, while their shifting shadows evoke the transient and cyclical nature of existence. Gleaming surfaces merge with dark obsidian, dissolving boundaries between natural and artificial in an synthesis of organic and synthetic forms. The tree’s charred appearance evokes the spectre of forest fires, a poignant reminder of the escalating climate crisis and its devastating impact on ecosystems.  
  • Through this lens, Last of the Wild and Free (Rhododendron Calophytum), offers a nuanced perspective on humanity's place within a larger ecological continuum, challenging viewers to reconsider their role in shaping and preserving the natural world. By reframing darkness as liminal spaces where anthropogenic impact and regenerative potential coexist, Si-Qin's work fosters a deeper appreciation for the intricate web of existence that connects all living beings.  
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