Image: Zhuzhu (Guiyong Zhu) delivering a collaborative workshop with JPE Design Studio, 2025, photograph Adrienne Nicholls.
Zhuzhu (Guiyong Zhu): Between Earth and Ether
Exhibition launch:
Friday 14 March, 6 – 8pm
JPE Design Studio
4/19 Gilles Street, Adelaide 5000
RSVP here
Zhuzhu (Guiyong Zhu) presents Between Earth and Ether, the latest outcome of the JPE Artist in Residence program, presented in collaboration with Guildhouse.
Zhuzhu’s artistic journey spans from Shanghai, where she worked as an art consultant collaborating with interior designers and architects, to across Adelaide, where her murals and installations enrich public spaces across South Australia & beyond. Her practice is deeply rooted in public art and placemaking, with a strong focus on community engagement.
During her residency, Zhuzhu has led a hands-on workshop with the JPE team, fostering creative collaboration that will become an integral part of her final artworks. She has also participated in design charettes with the team that has encouraged out-of-the-box thinking & collaboration – further enriching the creative dialogue within the studio.
Since 2013, JPE Design Studio has provided a platform for artists to exhibit their work, immerse themselves in studio culture, and influence design thinking. The JPE Artist in Residence program marks an exciting new chapter of creative exchange in partnership with Guildhouse.
Artist Statement:
Exploring the visible and invisible forces of energy and movement through collaborative art. As the Artist-in-Residence at JPE Design Studio, I present a body of work that investigates the dynamic interplay between the tangible (earth) and the intangible (ether). Central to this exhibition are two interactive canvases, created in collaboration with the JPE team. These canvases capture the collective energy and movement of individual contributions, serving as the foundation for the entire exhibition. Each artwork expands on these themes, exploring how energy and movement manifest in both physical and metaphysical realms. Through layered abstraction and text-based interactions, inspired by Julie Mehretu, I aim to create a dialogue between the grounded and the ethereal. This exhibition celebrates the power of collaboration and creativity, inviting viewers to reflect on their own experiences of energy and movement. It is a testament to the invisible threads that connect us all, bridging the personal and the universal.
Photograph Adrienne Nicholls.
Zhuzhu (Guiyong Zhu)
Fringe 2025
Zhuzhu (Guiyong Zhu), an Adelaide-based artist, holds a Bachelor of Mural Art (2011) and a Master of Property from the University of Adelaide (2020). She is a multi-disciplinary artist who brings her creative vision to life through a range of mediums, including murals, paintings, sculptures, and Jewellery.
With an insatiable curiosity for art forms and materials, Zhuzhu worked as an art consultant for three years, collaborating closely with interior designers and architects in Shanghai. Her participation in art projects for star hotels, urban landscapes, and residential developments showcases her versatility and pursuit of artistic excellence. Her artwork “Mirror” series won the Academy of Fine Arts ‘Morning Light Award’ and was permanently collected by the Shandong University of Arts, China in 2011. Her artwork has also achieved several prizes in China.
Since her relocation to Adelaide, Zhuzhu’s murals and sculptures have been featured in public places around South Australia., while her paintings have been showcased in galleries, hotels, and wine centers. Her self-portrait oil painting was selected as a finalist for the Gallery One Smallacombe Portrait Prize 2023 and sold. Her jewelry pieces are available for purchase at Gallery M and Murray Bridge Gallery. Her abstract painting “Hope” won the Second Prize in the 2D Category at the Murray Bridge Rotary Art Show 2024.
Zhuzhu’s artistic focus lies in public art, where she seamlessly integrates artistic expression with building environment awareness, transforming public spaces into vibrant hubs of creativity and cultural significance. Her immersive installations and murals engage communities, spark dialogue, and redefine public spaces as dynamic platforms for artistic expression.
Driven by a passion for placemaking and community engagement, Zhuzhu collaborates with local councils and organizations to enrich the cultural fabric of cities through her art. Her fresh perspective and innovative approach infuse every project with vitality and relevance.
With a Master of Property degree informing her artistic practice, Zhuzhu is uniquely positioned to navigate the intersection of art, building environment, and community engagement. Her work invites viewers to reimagine their relationship with the built environment and experience the city as a canvas for creative expression.
