A statue in the L obby

I pass this statue most days stuck in a dark corner of the lift area in the hotel lobby. It stares somewhat dismissively at you so I thought I'd share it. I had to use flash to get a decent take.

I have been teaching this morning and soon heading for a siesta before tonight's teaching. But feeling good. On these days I cannot get out to take more interesting blips as it would be too sapping in the heat and the best photos I want to show you are some way away. I will get more at the weekend and after I finish teaching next Wednesday.

I have ventured up and down the escalators to get the second and third picture to complement the one I captured before. Unfortunately, I thought I was close today but still not happy with it. There is so much detail in them that I need a successful close up to really make it work and the angle and pace of the descent/ascent makes this difficult. But I have survived the dance of the escalator for another day and will try again.

Now for some catching up before I rest.

Info about this sculpture and the artist. It is called Red memory - smile.

Red, corresponding with fire, symbolizes good fortune and joy. Red is found everywhere during Chinese New Year and other holidays and family gatherings. A red envelope is a monetary gift which is given in Chinese society during holiday or special occasions. The red color of the packet symbolizes good luck. Red is strictly forbidden at funerals as it is a traditionally symbolic color of happiness;[1] however, as the names of the dead were previously written in red, it may be considered offensive to use red ink for Chinese names in contexts other than official seals.

In modern China, red remains a very popular color and is affiliated with and used by the Communist government.

Chen Wenling (Chinese, b.1969) is a sculptor who was born in Anxi, a tiny village in the Fujian Province of China. His family was poor and could not afford to buy him new toys, so he used clay that was readily available in his surroundings to make small sculptures to play with. From these humble sculpting beginnings came the desire to study art as a profession. He decided to attend the Xiamen Academy of Art and Design, and he graduated in 1991. Not content yet with his education, he studied sculpture at the Central Academy of Fine Arts in Beijing, graduating in 1994.

While receiving his education, he said the works of Auguste Rodin (French, 1840–1917), Pablo Picasso (Spanish, 1881–1973), Salvador Dali (Spanish, 1904–1989), Rene Magritte (Belgian, 1898–1967), and Fernando Botero (Columbian, b.1932) were his inspiration. He combined the influence of these artists with aspects of the Realism movement to make works of art that would become controversial. His sculpture entitled Statue of Liberty and the Gold Bull featured the iconic United States monument with a book that had Liberal Economics instead of July 4, 1776 inscribed on it. He was trying to make a political point that the liberal United States economy was at fault for the 2008 financial crisis, which affected the global economy as well. He made many more political statements with his art, such as those in Happy Life. This series featured sculptures of humans and pigs performing daily tasks. He used pigs because they symbolize what he sees to be the gluttony and unbridled thirst for material objects in modern society. The pigs wear human clothes and perform human actions, while the humans have the traits of pigs.

Chen’s sculptures have been displayed in several places, including the solo exhibit Searching for Identity at Contemporary By Angela Li in Hong Kong and another at the Shanghai Duolun Museum of Modern Art in Shanghai. Group shows that the artist has participated in include Beyond Reality at Beyond Art Space in Beijing, My Chinese Friends at Galleri Susanne Ottesen in Copenhagen, and Under the Radar: Chinese Contemporary Art at the Robischon Gallery in Denver, CO. The artist currently lives and works in both Xiamen and Beijing.


I found this on further searching:

Red Memory Series

The use of bright red colour in presenting the boys depicts not only the symbolic and auspicious colour considered by Chinese traditions but also, a testament of the artist's fiery attitude towards life.The Red Boys, naked and free have nothing to hide. Simple and true- a direct communication with nature and a conversation between society and people is what Chen Wen Ling's works communicate to the audiences. The cheeky expressions and arresting poses is a celebratory call to the audiences-embracing the inner child in every viewer.