Jingmin Ren, “Good Together” Exhibiting Artist in Bondi: True Togetherness Is Building Connection Through Differences — An Interview with SBS by Jason Liu

Jingmin Ren and Jason Liu at SBS

In the three works of Du Li Shan Hai Jian from Jingmin Ren’s Xinyin Liunian – Bondi Series, traditional Chinese seal motifs appear prominently within the compositions. What role do they play?

At the Bondi Pavilion, an exhibition titled Good Together is currently on display.

The exhibition brings together leading artists from the Waverley area, including both established and recently resident creatives and studio artists. It aims to foster dialogue between diverse artistic practices, exploring how art and community can help people build deeper connections and more sustainable ways of living and creating together.

Jingmin Ren, a member of the Waverley Multicultural Advisory Committee and a participating artist in Waverley Council projects, is among the exhibiting artists. Her featured work, Du Li Shan Hai Jian, is part of her Xinyin Liunian – Bondi Series. Within this body of work, the use of traditional Chinese seals stands out as a distinctive visual language.

In an interview with SBS Mandarin, Ren explains that this series uniquely integrates the traditional Chinese art of seal carving with the natural energy of Australia’s coastline, creating an artistic expression that transcends both time and culture.

Ren describes herself as an artist with a pioneering vision. For her, artistic creation is not merely visual representation, but an ongoing exploration of spiritual origin. The Bondi Series is an extension of her long-term project Xinyin Liunian—rooted in the tradition of Chinese epigraphy and seal carving, yet reinterpreted within a contemporary context.

“Bondi is not just a geographical location,” she says, “but a field where energy and time intersect.”

Her work seeks to connect two dimensions: the present coastline and a cultural timeline spanning over two thousand years. Within this intersection, the enduring solidity of traditional “stone and seal aesthetics” enters into dialogue with the fluidity of the ocean—resulting in a visual language that is both still and dynamic.

In Du Li Shan Hai Jian, the idea of “independence” does not imply isolation, but rather a state of inner stability—of remaining grounded between heaven and earth amidst constant change.

“Amid the movement of all things, one can still return to the original self.”

This approach is deeply rooted in her lived experience in Bondi, where long-term observation of waves, sunrise, and shifting skies has shaped her perception. These natural phenomena, in her view, become “traces of time,” ultimately forming the structure and rhythm of her paintings.

For Ren, the exhibition theme Good Together extends beyond human relationships. It represents a broader concept of coexistence—between tradition and modernity, East and West, nature and civilization.

She believes that true togetherness is not about eliminating differences, but about building connection through them—finding order within movement.

In her work, the seals are no longer merely signatures in the traditional sense. Instead, they become central structural elements within the composition.

Ren describes them as both “visual anchors” and “points of energy concentration”—providing stability within the fluidity of the painting, while also symbolizing the accumulation of time and culture.

“They are like the ‘eyes’ of the painting,” she explains, “guiding the viewer into a deeper perceptual space.”

This reinterpretation of seals is also rooted in her long-standing practice of collecting and studying them. For Ren, each seal represents a dialogue with time, carrying both historical depth and personal trace.

“What matters is not whether a seal is valuable,” she says, “but the presence and vitality it embodies.”

Looking ahead, Ren plans to continue using seals as a core visual language, expanding into larger-scale and multi-media expressions, including installations and digital integration. Her upcoming project, Yuan Boundless, will further explore cross-cultural and cross-media connections.

In response to the growing influence of artificial intelligence in art, Ren acknowledges its capabilities but emphasizes its limitations:

“Technology can simulate form, but it cannot replace human experience. The essence of art still comes from perception and memory.”

She believes the key lies in whether artists can maintain a clear inner compass.

From traditional seal carving to contemporary artistic expression, Ren’s practice continues to expand across time and space. For her, the meaning of art may lie precisely in this process of transformation—helping people rediscover inner stability and connection within a changing world.

Click to listen to the full interview. https://www.sbs.com.au/language/chinese/zh-hans/podcast-episode/jingmin-ren-artist-in-bandi-pavilions-exhibition-true-good-together-is-built-on-connections-forged-through-differences/9myurpo13