Public art in Zaryadye: What unusual statues have appeared in the park?

An exhibition of contemporary art has opened at Zaryadye. Sculptures in the public art style are popping up in many parts of the park. Public art is popular all over the world and is meant for public city spaces: the works are placed outdoors in the streets, squares and parks to attract as many people’s attention as possible. Artists working in this style aim to remind people living in large urban centres of the connections with each other and the environment that we have lost.

The sculpture called the Endless Curve by well-known Chinese artist Wenqin Chen stands at the entrance to Zaryadye. The almost four-metre-high work made of stainless steel has the shape of a ring.

“The sculpture represents endless time and space, man’s unity with nature and his openness to everything new and beautiful. This is exactly how we see Zaryadye Park in the context of Moscow,” said Moscow Chief Architect Sergei Kuznetsov.

The sculpture called The Tulip by British artist Simon Hempsell is located under the Glass Canopy. The art object measuring two metres high and weighing about 60 kilograms imitates the shape of a flower. The statue is made of sheet metal and stainless steel.

According to Kuznetsov, another sculpture by Michael Hischer from Berlin will be set up in the park by the end of July. It is a three-metre-high kinetic (moving) sculpture in the shape of a weathervane. Its “wings” spin in different directions in the wind symbolising the endlessness of the universe.

All three statues will stay on the park grounds until the end of the year.

Wenqin Chen was born in China. Almost all his works are made of metal and dedicated to time and space. He is one of the few artists who have succeeded in selling their work at the Sotheby’s auction during their lifetime. Since 2009, his works have been exhibited in the UK, the US, China, Estonia and Holland. The Endless Curve, which has come to Russia, won the Broomhill National Sculpture Prize 2011 in the UK.

Simon Hempsell is from Yorkshire. The objects of his work are animals and plants. He finds inspiration in nature. The artist’s works have been seen in the famous Chelsea Flower Show in London and have been exhibited in the gardens of Doddington Hall, Lincolnshire, and others.

Michael Hischer was born and lives in Berlin. He has been making kinetic sculptures since 1993. His works belong to museum collections in Germany, the Netherlands, the UK and Portugal. They can also be seen at many international art exhibitions.

Zaryadye Park opened on 9 September 2017, during the city’s 870^th anniversary celebrations. Its grounds are divided into four sections: forest, steppe, meadow and northern landscape. The park also boasts the River Overlook footbridge, the Large Amphitheatre, the Nature Centre, an exhibition hall and a media centre.

In June, Zaryadye was put on the shortlist of the World Architecture Festival Contest in the Landscape Project category. Besides the Moscow park, the list of contenders in the competition includes projects from Beijing, Singapore, Sydney and other world cities. Zaryadye has received prestigious international awards: together with the Luzhniki Sports Complex, the park was nominated for the 2018 MIPIM Awards. Zaryadye also won the ArchDaily Award in the Best Public Space project category.