Chinese Element & International Views -- "SKY-PATCHING: GODDESS Nuwa" in Times Square
NEW YORK, April 23, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- On April 19, before the 2012 Earth Day, the sculpture, "SKY-PATCHING: GODDESS Nuwa," was displayed at Times Square. The exhibit attracted thousands of world tourists. The sculpture was created by Yuan Xikun, a renowned Chinese artist, member of Standing Committee of Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference and the UNEP Patron for the Arts and Environment. Besides his sculpture, paintings created by students from School of Humanities at Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications were also displayed.
Inspired by the UNEP OzonAction, Yuan Xikun chose Goddess Nuwa as the artistic impression of the initiative. Nuwa is a goddess who smelted a seven-color stone to block a hole in the sky. Using this well-known symbol in Chinese mythology, best known for repairing the wall of heaven, Nuwa will take up a new quest, the modern day challenges of fighting ozone depletion. Yuan's creative idea integrates a Chinese cultural component with an international theme and this effort reflects the importance of collective strategies to combat climate change. This presentation also demonstrates Chinese concern on ozone depletion and commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emission through working with different countries and private sectors.
Last November, the hand-over ceremony of rocks and water for the sculpture was held during the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer (MOP23) Conference in Bali of Indonesia. Delegates from all over the world presented rocks from the continents of the world and water from two polar regions to Mr. Yuan Xikun, and he used these elements to create the sculpture.
Up to now, Yuan is the artist who earned the international recognition and has won the most international highest medals in the field of sculpture in China. He is also famous for creating environmental-themed art pieces such as "Urgency of Polar Region" and "Patron for the forest – Tiger."
SOURCE United Nations Environment Programme
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