Mark di Suvero, Hugs, 2011, steel, urethane paint, 51 ft x 32 ft x 20 ft 4 in. (1554.5 x 975.4 x 619.8 cm), © Mark di Suvero. Courtesy Paula Cooper Gallery. Photo: Lawrence Lu.
Against the dynamic backdrop of the 2023 Shanghai Urban Space Art Season (SUSAS), Xuhui Riverside is adorned with over 30 spatial and environmental artworks, presenting the exquisite beauty of "METro-BIOSIS." Building upon the success of previous editions, West Bund Museum is set to reveal another extraordinary public sculpture during this art season, injecting a fresh vibrancy into public spaces.
In early November 2023, the internationally renowned sculptor Mark di Suvero will present his large-scale sculpture Hugs as a key exhibit of SUSAS. This will mark the first showcase of a large-scale public sculpture by the artist within a Chinese art institution, prominently featured in the outdoor public space of West Bund Museum. The towering 15-meter sculpture, composed of steel I-beams, is poised to become a striking landmark along the Xuhui Riverside, enticing the audience to appreciate and explore the organic connection between art and urban spaces.
This sculpture aligns seamlessly with the concept of co-creation and societal art education of West Bund Museum. In harmony with the SUSAS theme of "METro-BIOSIS”, Hugs adds a splash of color to the West Bund Art District. The sculpture beckons spectators to stroll, linger, and navigate its surroundings, offering diverse ways to observe, experience, and interact. Through active participation, audiences will immerse themselves in the vitality and dynamism of this sculptural masterpiece, using art to unveil a fresh perspective on urban spaces, collaboratively painting a vivid art landscape of “METro-BIOSIS.”