• Installation view of "Zhang Ruyi: Speaking Softly," 2023, UCCA Center for Contemporary Art, Beijing, China. Courtesy of UCCA Center for Contemporary Art. Photo: Sun Shi

  • Installation view of "Zhang Ruyi: Speaking Softly," 2023, UCCA Center for Contemporary Art, Beijing, China. Courtesy of UCCA Center for Contemporary Art. Photo: Sun Shi

  • Installation view of "Zhang Ruyi: Speaking Softly," 2023, UCCA Center for Contemporary Art, Beijing, China. Courtesy of UCCA Center for Contemporary Art. Photo: Sun Shi

  • Installation view of "Zhang Ruyi: Speaking Softly," 2023, UCCA Center for Contemporary Art, Beijing, China. Courtesy of UCCA Center for Contemporary Art. Photo: Sun Shi

  • Installation view of "Zhang Ruyi: Speaking Softly," 2023, UCCA Center for Contemporary Art, Beijing, China. Courtesy of UCCA Center for Contemporary Art. Photo: Sun Shi

  • Installation view of "Zhang Ruyi: Speaking Softly," 2023, UCCA Center for Contemporary Art, Beijing, China. Courtesy of UCCA Center for Contemporary Art. Photo: Sun Shi

  • Installation view of "Zhang Ruyi: Speaking Softly," 2023, UCCA Center for Contemporary Art, Beijing, China. Courtesy of UCCA Center for Contemporary Art. Photo: Sun Shi

  • Installation view of "Zhang Ruyi: Speaking Softly," 2023, UCCA Center for Contemporary Art, Beijing, China. Courtesy of UCCA Center for Contemporary Art. Photo: Sun Shi

  • Installation view of "Zhang Ruyi: Speaking Softly," 2023, UCCA Center for Contemporary Art, Beijing, China. Courtesy of UCCA Center for Contemporary Art. Photo: Sun Shi

  • 'Swaying Posture', 2022, Installation view of "Zhang Ruyi: Speaking Softly," 2023, UCCA Center for Contemporary Art, Beijing, China. Courtesy of UCCA Center for Contemporary Art. Photo: Sun Shi

  • Installation view of "Zhang Ruyi: Speaking Softly," 2023, UCCA Center for Contemporary Art, Beijing, China. Courtesy of UCCA Center for Contemporary Art. Photo: Sun Shi

  • 'Matte Substance – 3', 2019, Installation view of "Zhang Ruyi: Speaking Softly," 2023, UCCA Center for Contemporary Art, Beijing, China. Courtesy of UCCA Center for Contemporary Art. Photo: Sun Shi

  • 'Knickknacks', 2022, Installation view of "Zhang Ruyi: Speaking Softly," 2023, UCCA Center for Contemporary Art, Beijing, China. Courtesy of UCCA Center for Contemporary Art. Photo: Sun Shi

  • Installation view of "Zhang Ruyi: Speaking Softly," 2023, UCCA Center for Contemporary Art, Beijing, China. Courtesy of UCCA Center for Contemporary Art. Photo: Sun Shi

  • Installation view of "Zhang Ruyi: Speaking Softly," 2023, UCCA Center for Contemporary Art, Beijing, China. Courtesy of UCCA Center for Contemporary Art. Photo: Sun Shi

  • 'A Brief Stare', 2022, Installation view of "Zhang Ruyi: Speaking Softly," 2023, UCCA Center for Contemporary Art, Beijing, China. Courtesy of UCCA Center for Contemporary Art. Photo: Sun Shi

  • 'A Brief Stare', (detail), 2022, Installation view of "Zhang Ruyi: Speaking Softly," 2023, UCCA Center for Contemporary Art, Beijing, China. Courtesy of UCCA Center for Contemporary Art. Photo: Sun Shi

  • Installation view of "Zhang Ruyi: Speaking Softly," 2023, UCCA Center for Contemporary Art, Beijing, China. Courtesy of UCCA Center for Contemporary Art. Photo: Sun Shi

  • 'Modern Fossil (Fake Eyelashes) - 1', 2022, Installation view of "Zhang Ruyi: Speaking Softly," 2023, UCCA Center for Contemporary Art, Beijing, China. Courtesy of UCCA Center for Contemporary Art. Photo: Sun Shi

  • 'Water Stain', 2023, Installation view of "Zhang Ruyi: Speaking Softly," 2023, UCCA Center for Contemporary Art, Beijing, China. Courtesy of UCCA Center for Contemporary Art. Photo: Sun Shi

  • 'Water Stain' (detail), 2023, Installation view of "Zhang Ruyi: Speaking Softly," 2023, UCCA Center for Contemporary Art, Beijing, China. Courtesy of UCCA Center for Contemporary Art. Photo: Sun Shi

  • Installation view of "Zhang Ruyi: Speaking Softly," 2023, UCCA Center for Contemporary Art, Beijing, China. Courtesy of UCCA Center for Contemporary Art. Photo: Sun Shi

  • Installation view of "Zhang Ruyi: Speaking Softly," 2023, UCCA Center for Contemporary Art, Beijing, China. Courtesy of UCCA Center for Contemporary Art. Photo: Sun Shi

  • Installation view of "Zhang Ruyi: Speaking Softly," 2023, UCCA Center for Contemporary Art, Beijing, China. Courtesy of UCCA Center for Contemporary Art. Photo: Sun Shi

  • 'Modern Fossil (Pipe) - 2', 2021, Installation view of "Zhang Ruyi: Speaking Softly," 2023, UCCA Center for Contemporary Art, Beijing, China. Courtesy of UCCA Center for Contemporary Art. Photo: Sun Shi

  • Installation view of "Zhang Ruyi: Speaking Softly," 2023, UCCA Center for Contemporary Art, Beijing, China. Courtesy of UCCA Center for Contemporary Art. Photo: Sun Shi

  • Installation view of "Zhang Ruyi: Speaking Softly," 2023, UCCA Center for Contemporary Art, Beijing, China. Courtesy of UCCA Center for Contemporary Art. Photo: Sun Shi

  • 'Shards' (detail), 2021 - 2022, Installation view of "Zhang Ruyi: Speaking Softly," 2023, UCCA Center for Contemporary Art, Beijing, China. Courtesy of UCCA Center for Contemporary Art. Photo: Sun Shi

  • 'Outdoor Unit', 2021 - 2022, Installation view of "Zhang Ruyi: Speaking Softly," 2023, UCCA Center for Contemporary Art, Beijing, China. Courtesy of UCCA Center for Contemporary Art. Photo: Sun Shi

  • 'Outdoor Unit' (detail), 2021 - 2022, Installation view of "Zhang Ruyi: Speaking Softly," 2023, UCCA Center for Contemporary Art, Beijing, China. Courtesy of UCCA Center for Contemporary Art. Photo: Sun Shi

  • 'A Corner of the Greenhouse', 2012, Installation view of "Zhang Ruyi: Speaking Softly," 2023, UCCA Center for Contemporary Art, Beijing, China.

  • Installation view of "Zhang Ruyi: Speaking Softly," 2023, UCCA Center for Contemporary Art, Beijing, China. Courtesy of UCCA Center for Contemporary Art. Photo: Sun Shi

  • 'Planter - 8', 2022, Installation view of "Zhang Ruyi: Speaking Softly," 2023, UCCA Center for Contemporary Art, Beijing, China. Photo: SU Hang