Head of Harley King Kong |
金鋼獸首
| 語音導覽 | 不銹鋼 Stainless steel 80 x 36 x 74cm |
金鋼獸首，高80cm，犀首高昂，目視遠方，仍然延續「金鋼」系列的幾何硬邊、工業鉚釘等重要元素。除了「獸首」雕塑本身的圖騰象徵之意，《金鋼獸首》有其自身兩點重要的含義。
提及「獸首」，最繞不開的話題就是圓明園十二生肖獸首銅像，是原中國清朝皇家園林，龍首、蛇首、羊首、雞首、狗首至今下落不明。犀牛是中國歷代皇族不可替代的尊貴象徵，白居易更有詩言「通天白犀帶，照地紫麟袍」，唐朝的達官貴人，以使用「白犀帶」為時尚，並作為其地位尊貴的象徵。藝術家用當代的語言，以銅、不鏽鋼重鑄犀牛獸首，犀牛角高高指向天際，象徵中華文化的不屈不撓。是對國寶的敬意，更是對歷史的警醒。
The "Rhino Head" is a copper sculpture, crafted in 2014, standing at a height of 80cm and measuring 74x38x80cm. It retains the geometric hard edges and industrial rivets that are integral to the "King Kong Rhino" series and the rhino head is gazing resolutely towards the distance. The sculpture holds two significant meanings beyond the totemic symbol of the animal head itself.
The topic of "animal head" inevitably brings to mind the bronze animal head sculptures of the Chinese zodiac, which were once a part of the imperial garden of the Qing Dynasty in the Old Summer Palace. The dragon, snake, goat, rooster, and dog heads remain missing to this day. The rhinoceros has always been an irreplaceable symbol of nobility for Chinese imperial families throughout history. In fact, the Tang Dynasty poet Bai Juyi famously wrote, "The white rhinoceros belt around his waist, the purple Qilin robe shining on the ground." The "white rhinoceros belt" was a fashion statement among high-ranking officials and aristocrats, and a symbol of their prestigious status.
Using contemporary language, the artist recast the rhino head in copper and stainless steel, with the horn pointing skywards as a testament to the indomitable spirit of Chinese culture. It pays tribute to national treasures and serves as a reminder of history's lessons.