UNVEILING OF 'THE LION'
8 APRIL 2009
WARDOUR STREET: THE GATEWAY TO CHINATOWN
Photos: David Bushell
Chinatown Arts Space and Shaftesbury PLC are delighted to announce Hsiao-Chi
Tsai from Taiwan and Kimiya Yoshikawa from Japan as the winners of the £20,000
Wardour Street Sculpture commission with their collaborative proposal ‘The Lion’.
This exciting new commission encapsulates the vibrancy and diversity of Chinatown
and its community. The sculpture will be installed for up to 10 years on the
corner of Wardour Street and Shaftesbury Avenue at the unveiling on 8th April
2009.
‘The Lion’ is a striking contemporary interpretation of a traditional Chinese symbol of greeting and guardianship. Made of jesmonite, brightly coloured Perspex and treated steel, the colour and pattern of The Lion represent the diversity of East Asians living and working in the UK.
David Tse Ka-shing (Creative Director of Chinatown Arts Space): ‘This is a vibrant, playful, modern interpretation of a traditional East Asian icon using colourful Perspex material, and will be a striking addition to Chinatown's increasing public artwork. The sculpture marks one entrance into Chinatown and will be in situ for up to 10 years, a welcome cultural icon in the West End amidst the busy landscape of advertising jostling for people's attention.’
Hsiao-Chi Tsai & Kimiya Yoshikawa graduated from the Royal College of Art
in 2006 with Tsai specialising in Textiles and Yoshikawa in Sculpture. Tsai & Yoshikawa
have also been commissioned by Lewisham Council, London to produce a public sculpture
for Catford town centre.
