Ren Zhe’s Wuxia Sculpture Exhibition

Visitors to Mong Kok can now encounter legendary characters from Jin Yong’s famous wuxia novels through a new public art installation by Chinese sculptor Ren Zhe. The exhibition places three groups of large-scale stainless-steel sculptures at Langham Place and Cordis, Hong Kong, allowing residents and travellers to experience art outside traditional museum settings.

The sculptures depict well-known characters including Yang Guo and Xiaolongnü, Guo Jing and Huang Rong, and Linghu Chong and Ren Yingying. Inspired by stories of courage, loyalty, friendship and love, the artworks transform literary characters into striking three-dimensional forms. Visitors familiar with Jin Yong’s novels may recognise these heroes immediately, while international audiences can appreciate the emotions and stories expressed through the sculptures without prior knowledge of the books.

Born in Beijing in 1983, Ren Zhe spent six years developing this wuxia sculpture project. Working with a team of more than 60 people and creating over 1,000 sketches, he has produced nearly 50 sculptures as part of a larger plan to portray 100 characters from Jin Yong’s literary world.

The installation highlights how public spaces can become places for cultural discovery and reflection.