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Wed 18 Mar UPDATE: Thanks to your incredible generosity, we’ve exceeded our initial target and so have used up the pledged match funding. However, whilst your donation will no longer be doubled you can still give to support.

Our fundraiser, Brighter Futures: Art & Nature For Every Child, is live for one week only – 17-24 March. If you’re able to, please consider making a donation; every contribution counts.

Exhibitions

Commodities: Sculpture and Ceramics
 by Renee So

Saturday 20 September 2025 – Sunday 8 March 2026

new and existing works included a series of darkly playful objects, such as over-sized ceramic snuff bottles shaped like lemons, noses, or poppy seeds.

A series of abstract silver fountain sculptures resembling intestines in a shallow pool stand in a row in a grassy park setting, with tall trees in the background.

Opening Times

Wed – Sun: Grounds 10am-5pm, Galleries 10.30am-5pm
Closed Mon and Tue, except bank holiday Mondays

About the
Exhibition

Hong Kong-born artist Renee So creates darkly playful ceramic sculptures which consider how we understand Chinese culture and history today, from snuff and perfume to silk and even the ancient Chinese version of football – cuju.

Oversized snuff bottles shaped like a poppy or a giant nose linked to sculptures of contemporary perfumes that reference imperial histories such as ‘Invasion’, ‘Colony’ and ‘Opium’. A magic bronze mirror, based on those made thousands of years ago, projected a glowing ghostly image onto a darkened wall. Ritual vessels explored how the Taotie, a mythological Chinese creature, is connected to the early history of silk weaving, pioneered by women. So’s works helped us see Compton Verney’s world-renowned collection of Chinese Bronzes in a new light.

Through a mix of new and never before seen works, So explored how perceptions of history can be distorted, re-fashioned and changed, questioning how we create the new stories we tell ourselves today.

Supported by the Henry Moore Foundation   

A recreation of a Chinese snuff bottle with coral-pink base colour decorated with turquoise and white painted designs resembling stylized elephants or animals, topped with a brass cap and turquoise collar, displayed against a reddish-brown background.
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Museum visitor in striped sweater sits on bench viewing a circular wooden display case containing vintage perfume bottles and containers, including items labeled
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Museum gallery interior showing two decorative vessels on white pedestals against an orange accent wall, with a framed geometric artwork featuring a face-like design hanging on the adjacent neutral wall.
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A bronze or copper-colored sculptural silkworm displayed on a white pedestal against a neutral beige background. The segmented insect sculpture features a rounded head with circular markings and multiple body segments, each with small circular details. The silkworm has small legs protruding from its underside and has a metallic, patinated finish.
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Four bronze or metal sculptural figures arranged on a white display shelf against a rich red-orange wall. The sculptures appear to be stylized human forms with distinctive curved, heads. They vary in size and patina, ranging from greenish to dark bronze finishes. The figures have simplified, abstract body forms.
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Open the gallery to view all images

Renee So Gallery

13 images
Contemporary museum gallery with dark teal walls displaying a large red sculptural installation resembling cuju goal posts. Holding a magic mirror, projecting an image of cuju onto the wall. There is a mosaic image of two women playing cuju on the opposite wall and you can see this room is, connected to an orange-walled gallery space beyond.
A museum gallery corner featuring two distinctive wall-mounted display cases with wooden frames. On the left is a hexagonal shelving unit containing various ceramic vessels and pottery in different colours including turquoise, pink, cream, and black. On the right is a circular display case housing what appears to be perfume bottles and cosmetic containers, including items labelled
Museum gallery space with white walls and wooden floors, featuring ancient pottery vessels on a white display table against an orange accent wall, with geometric artworks including a face-like design and a figure with circular motif hanging on the walls.