East meets the West with the first major public exhibition of sculpture by the internationally renowned Chinese Contemporary artist Ai Weiwei titled Circle of Animals/Zodiac Heads. It is presently on view outdoors overlooking McGovern Lake in Hermann Park.
Comprised of 12 monumental bronze animal heads, each weighing 800 pounds and standing roughly 10 feet high, Circle of Animals/Zodiac Heads is Ai Weiwei's re-creation on an oversized scale of the traditional zodiac sculptures that once adorned the fabled fountain at Yuanming Yuan outside Beijing. Erected in the 18th century, the original animal heads surrounding the fountain spouted water at two-hour intervals until 1860, when French and British troops raided the palace and looted the heads. To date only seven of the legendary 12 heads have been recovered around the world; the location of the remaining five is still unknown.
I really like the location overlooking McGovern Lake in Hermann Park.
The Rat ... the first of the Zodiac Animals.
The Ox, Tiger, Rabbit and Snake.
The Dragon.
Six this week and six more next week!
Thank you to the Our World hosts.
Wishing you WELL and a JOY filled week!
25 comments:
Great post!! Boom & Gary of the Vermilon River, Canada.
WOW! These are fantastic! Your shots are superb and really capture the details beautifully! I look forward to seeing more! Have a great week!
Sylvia
Stunning photos of absolutely wonderful sculptures! Thank you for sharing.
What a neat sculpture display. I love the bunny and I love bears but this one looks mean. Wonderful photos, thanks for sharing this cool place.
Hello There, Since I've been away from blogging for a week, I have alot of catching up to do. We had a wonderful trip to Arkansas --but it's great to visit with my blog friends. Hope things are going well with you.
Excellent exhibition, Snap... That is one talented artist. I like them all, but my fav is the tiger.
Hugs,
Betsy
Great shots. I want the dragon to put in my front yard!
Wow...those are fantastic! You haven't gotten to my sign yet so I'll wait until next week.
Wonderful and very unique sculptures.
How wonderful to actually be able to see these in person! Thank you for sharing these photos and the history behind the artist's inspiration.
Could only imagine what the originals looked like and wonder they are kept. Hopefully in time the remaining 5 will be located and the set reunited.
Blessings, XO HHL
The animal head sculpture is fantastic. What a great public art exhibition.
I like them for the sculpture yet find the display rather disturbing with the large heads on poles. Very interesting exhibition.
Amazing exhibit.
How cool that you can see Ai Weiwei's work in person!
They are fantastic!
I was glad to see a Dragon - as that is my Chinese sign.
Hi Snap, these are beautiful work of art! What a talent.
Your shots show the details, very cute!
I have never heard or seen of these before,they are amazing !
This is so awesome !
Greetings from Holland,
Anna :-))
Those heads are incredible! Thanks for sharing them. I miss Herman Park. :<(
These are spectacular Snap, you are so lucky to be able to see them in situ. xox Corrine
OMG this was a surprise. How cool is that? A chinese artist. It would have been nice to see it.
Great photos, Snap. The exhibit is wonderful.
This was so interesting! The heads look very realistic. It's shame so many were looted and lost back in 1860.
Very interesting...a little scary, but interesting.
You get to go some neat places, Snap!
fondly,
Rett
Thanks for stopping by and leaving sweet comment :)
Greetings from Australia♥
Oooooh, I LOVE them!!!!
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