The outdoor exhibition "Today's Impression has aroused great interest but has left some people confused. After a visit to the People's Park, where the display continues until Tuesday, one man said: "I don't know what some of the sculptures are expressing. They're too abstract."
Tongji University professor Liu Qing'an, who is one of the organizers, commented: "At present, the city's outdoor sculpture is at a low level. Most of the examples in the streets lay more emphasis on physical functions than aesthetic ones.
"Not all the sculptors are trying to reveal something. Sometimes they only want to show the beauty of different shapes and patterns."
Chinese Dragon by Lizuka Hachiro from Japan
Japan's Ikawa Kazuki, whose work is included in the exhibition, has tried to pass on his understanding of three dimensions by taking advantage of visual illusion. His colleague Lizuka Hachiro, also an organizer, employs the dragon pattern of Chinese paper-cutting to convey his idea of China and its culture.
Zou Dongfang has attracted attention with her delicacy and feminine perspective. Her sculpture "Wind" is made of colored steel plates.
( Shanghai Star January 11, 2002)
