A giant climbing panda sculpture on Chengdu’s Chunxi Road has recently aroused awareness of public and media across China. With the grand opening of Chengdu International Finance Square (Chengdu IFS) on January 14th 2014, the giant panda’s real appearance was finally revealed. Created by internationally renowned artist Lawrence Argent, the gigantic panda sculpture is named as “I am Here” which weighs 13 tons with a height of 15 meters. Mr. Argent has captured public imagination in the United States with his mega public art installations “I See What You Mean” and “Leap”. With China’s beloved giant panda as the theme, Mr. Argent made his first large-scale outdoor art installation in China with the curator AllRightsReserved to integrate this landmark with art and created this public art installation belonging to the city.
With 3,000 to 4,000 triangles that make abstraction, the artist has used natural colors of the panda itself. Mr. Argent has also used digital rendering to gain the ideas and inspiration for the creation of this installation. Moreover, it took another three weeks for fabrication, transportation and installation. Eventually, the panda is appeared as climbing the wall of Chengdu IFS.
Mr. Argent gives this creation rich connotation and meaning, “I am Here” which comes into being to break the barrier between the serious commercial world and people. “The panda declares its presence and gives the art installation social meaning for thought, hence making ourselves think about our presence and reflecting on thought-provoking social significance.” He said.
To strengthen the public’s awareness of the conservation for pandas, Mr. Argent has also created twenty 40-centimeter-tall white panda sculptures alongside with the 15-meter giant panda art installation. The curator AllRightsReserved, together with famous photographer Leslie Kee and the creative consultant Sean Kunjambu have invited 20 world-renowned artists and trendsetters including Maggie Cheung, Du Juan , Yue Minjun, Yohji Yamamoto, Paul Smith, Pharrell Williams, Alber Elbaz, Sarah Andelman (Colette), Huang Xiaoming, Zhou Xun, Ashin & NO2GOOD, Pang Ho-Cheung, Show Lo, Nicola Formichetti, Aaron Kwok, Zheng Jie, Carina Lau, NIGO, D*Face & PHSHA T to design the unique panda sculptures, and will be exhibited in the “HE-ART for PANDA Charity Auction Exhibition” in Chengdu IFS. These twenty panda sculptures and photos will be exhibited and auctioned for charity, by which the money raised will be fully donated to China Conservation and Research Centre for the Giant Panda.
To enhance influence of Lawrence Argent’s works, “I am Here” project also offers 20cm-tall mini pandas for charity sale, the first patch of pandas is limited to 1,000 pieces (RMB 500 each). The fund raised will be fully donated to China Conservation and Research Centre for the Giant Panda for panda conservation and research. The public will be engaged to contribute their efforts to the research and protection of pandas.