Beijing Olympic Park City, China.

the bird's nest main olympic stadium in the rear. July 2008. Photography by Gracely Luyan, Beijing Olympic Council Committee.
the aquatic center a.k.a. bubble building in the rear. July 2008. Photography by Gracely Luyan, Beijing Olympic Council Committee.
the bird's nest main olympic stadium in the rear. July 2008. Photography by Gracely Luyan, Beijing Olympic Council Committee.

newly installed, may 2008. Photography by Michael Suh, Beijing Olympic Council Committee.

newly installed on site, may 2008. Photography by Michael Suh, Beijing Olympic Council Committee.

Fabrication done at Yi Dong Yuan Sculpture Manufacture Center, Beijing, China in 2007

Fabrication done at Yi Dong Yuan Sculpture Manufacture Center, Beijing, China in 2007 - sculpture progress inspection

Fabrication done at Yi Dong Yuan Sculpture Manufacture Center, Beijing, China in 2007 - paintjob complete

process in making the maquette 2005

process in making the maquette 2005

process in making the maquette 2005

process in making the maquette 2005

finished maquette 2005 - set-up for photography submission

finished maquette 2005 - set-up for photography submission - lighting study

finished maquette 2005 - set-up for photography submission - lighting study

finished maquette 2005 - set-up for photography submission - top view

maquette exhibition 2006, over 200 maquettes being judged to be selected for full scale reproduction

standing nervously next to my maquette in the exhibition 2006, over 200 maquettes from all over the world being judged to be selected for full scale reproduction. in the back, american artist Bernard Hosey.

in a public art conference in Beijing, 2006.

2007 second trip to supervise sculpture fabrication and discuss location of the sculpture in the interpretation center next to the bird nest stadium.

“Technology is bringing the world closer together, and yet our understanding and acceptance towards each other are far greater than ever before. We need to diminish these invisible barriers, in order to assimilate two opposing views, and bring unity to the world.”

- artist statement for Two Sides, 2005 -

Project Summary
Title: TWO SIDES
Year: 2005 - 2008
Medium: Painted Corten Steel
Dimension: 1.8 (w) x 2.5 (h) x 5 (l) meters
Location: Beijing Olympic Park City, Beijing, China

This sculpture was constructed in Beijing for the upcoming Beijing 2008 Olympic. The sculpture entitled ‘Two Sides’ illustrates the need for everyone to break barriers, in order to unite our opposing views. The first round of selection was open to the international public which started in the end of 2005, where the competition received over 2700 valid entries from 41 countries and regions. 700 sculptures were later selected to go through the second round of selection in 2006.

The maquette (above) was selected through to the second round, and one of a hundred or so sculptures selected for full scale reproduction to be placed around the new Beijing Olympic City. At this stage, the sculpture was awarded the ‘Merit Award’ by the China Beijing Olympic Park City Sculpture Design Competition & Exhibition Organizing Committee for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad. Fabrication was done at Yi Dong Yuan Sculpture Manufacture Center, Beijing, China in 2007. Upon completion in early November 2007, the final built sculptures will be in the final round to be judged. The sculpture was fully installed on-site in May 2008.

This international competition was organized by The China and International Olympic committee, to select and install sculptures throughout the 2008 Beijing Olympic Park. As the selection was on an individual basis and not on a quota basis according to countries, nor has it been filtered or recommended by any governing local bodies, I feel even more honoured to be selected for such a prestigious event.

The following are details about my participation in the Olympic sculpture contest:

Beijing Olympic Art Dream - 2008 Beijing International City Sculpture Exhibition is a comprehensive art activity sponsored by Beijing Municipal Government. It aims at promoting the development of public art in accordance with the idea of “Green Olympics, Technology-empowered Olympics and Culture-enriched Olympics” and the 2008 Olympic theme of “One World, One Dream”. The major events include Beijing International Sculpture Invitation Exhibition, Beijing City Space Sculpture Exhibition, and Seminar on “Beijing Olympic Art Dream.”

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related links in the Sunday Star newspaper.