Project for the Suzhou Museum of Modern Art, China
Location: Suzhou (Shanghai area) China
Materials: Stainless steel, Colored stucco, stone, white concrete, Camphor trees, Pine trees, local reed, water systems
Dimensions: Two Camphor Island: pool area – 900 sqm, central element 12m high. Cloud-rock Pines: pool area 600 sqm, central element 7m long, 5m high
Project History:
2017: concept and initial planning
2018: detailed planning and maquettes
2023 detailed production plans
Key Meanings: “In laying out gardens… the aim is to see the small in the large, to see the large in the small, to see the real in the illusory and to see the illusory in the real.” Shen Fu, Suzhou 1763-1825
Artist Statement: The two proposed artistic projects create iconic images for the entrance to the Museum - extremely recognizable to the public. They make use of elements from Suzhou’s world famous classical gardens, yet locate them in an unexpected new context. These works investigate contemporary tensions between: global, local, conservation, modernization, natural, artificial, real and illusory. Yet their presence makes direct unobscured impression. They remain accessible to people of every kind.
The Suzhou Modern Art Museum project, being built near lake Yangcheng at the outskirts of Suzhou-China, presents a unique cultural opportunity.
The historical city of Suzhou, founded in 514 BCE, has been an important cultural and economic center ever since. It is especially renowned today for its canals, bridges, pagodas and Classical Chinese Gardens* - four of which have been nominated UNESCO world heritage sites. In the 1990’s, two new industrial economic zones were built adjoining the city which have transformed it into one of the fastest growing cities in the world. “The tensions between Suzhou’s international renown as a storehouse of Chinese heritage, and its role as vanguard of national economic development” **, make it a fascinating place for contemporary environmental art which investigates cultural memory.
Two Camphor Island project transforms the northern entrance to the museum complex into a series of water spaces echoing the wetlands of the nearby Lake Yangcheng. The central element will be positioned facing the entrance road. It will be composed of two large Camphor trees (9-10 m high) growing out of a hill-island shaped by a structure recalling the form of a ‘sunken Pagoda'. Local reed and other local grasses will cover the Island and surround the pool. A small bridge-path will cross the 'ecological-pool' allowing the visitors to see the vegetation and wildlife of the lake including its fish, lobster and birds.
Cloud-rock Pines is proposed for the second water space located in the museum’s front entrance. The sculpture is composed of two horizontally shaped Pine trees which grow from a ‘cloud’ shaped sculptured ‘rock’, giving the impression of hovering over the water. The elliptic shallow clear-water pool, will include two ‘paths’ of stones which allow walking through the water towards the museum. The design recalls artificial rock islands in classical Chinese gardens yet surprises by the ‘weightless’ impression of the ‘rock’ and the seemingly impossible growing position of the trees.
The two proposed artistic projects create iconic images for the entrance to the Museum - extremely recognizable to the public. They make use of elements from Suzhou’s world famous classical gardens, yet locate them in an unexpected new context. These works investigate contemporary tensions between: global, local, conservation, modernization, natural, artificial, real and illusory. Yet their presence makes direct unobscured impression. They remain accessible to people of every kind.
Two Camphor Island, Proposal for the Northern entrance to the Museum complex - general view from the north-east
Local grass will grow through the structure stabilizing the earth of the central island,
and the whole 'hill' mass will create a shape recalling a 'sunken Pagoda'.
Camphor Tree - Cinnamomum camphora xiang-zhang shu
The Camphor is a large evergreen tree which may reach the height of 20-30 m and live for hundreds of years and more. The great Camphor of Kamo – Japan, is believed to be 1500 years old and has reached a trunk circumference of 24.22 m The Camphor tree is native to South China, Taiwan, Japan, Korea and Vietnam and has been introduced to many other countries. The leaves have glossy, waxy appearance and smell of camphor. In spring the tree produces bright green foliage with masses of small white flowers. The fruit grows in clusters, and is black berry-like, 1 cm in diameter. The Camphor tree is an official city tree of Suzhou and is widely planted around the city.
Camphor is a white crystalline substance obtained from the tree which has been used for centuries for medicine, incense, repelling insects and as a culinary spice . It is often dissolved to create ‘camphor oil’. Traditionally camphor was used externally to treat bruises and inflammation and in incense form for asthma & bronchitis. Today camphor is mainly used in creams for rheumatic pains and for sore muscles.
Camphor tree in the Garden of the Humble administrator - Zhuo Zheng Yuan - Suzhou
