Wang Hui: The Weathering Lions

Bringing together a new body of sculptures, the exhibition explores the lion as one of the most enduring symbols across civilizations, from the Great Sphinx of Giza and Chinese stone lions to HSBC’s bronze lions, Singapore’s Merlion, and Venice’s Lion of Saint Mark. Through a process of “weathering,” Wang Hui transforms these familiar symbols into fragmented, perforated forms, reflecting on how time, history, and civilization leave their traces.

Presented in Venice, where the lion runs through the history of the Republic, the Arsenale, and the Biennale, the exhibition takes on a particular resonance. In 2026, the Venice Biennale’s International Jury collectively resigned over geopolitical issues, while the Venice Film Festival continues to award its Golden Lion through an international jury. The same symbol thus takes on different meanings within different institutions. The exhibition invites us to consider how symbols of power are shaped and transformed by time.