A LED figure endlessly scales a ladder of words like a labourer on a by-now ubiquitous construction site in China. The running script that forms the metaphorical ladder is the lyrics of the Chinese National Anthem, “March of the Volunteers”, composed by the poet Tian Han in the 1930s. Like the electrified, ultra-modern skyscrapers of Pudong, "Tian Tang" is a light tower made of stainless steel and a paper collage with LED panels concealed beneath which emit light throughout the surface of the artwork.
"Tian Tang" reflects the Chinese national spirit and the controversies that surround the country’s quest for development and modernization. The Chinese people scale multiple ladders of industry, commerce and production in a determined drive to reach their desired place in the Tian Tang, or paradise, of their imagination. This is most evident in the recent construction boom. At present, China possesses the largest construction market in the world, with annual funds for capital construction exceeding one trillion yuan, said Wang Xiaoying, director of the Information Exchange Center of the China Construction Industry Association. The country has embarked on project after mega project in recent years, in particular with regards to the Beijing Olympics and the World Expo. However, amidst the relentless pursuit of prosperity, many questions concerning the impact of rapid economic change have arisen. The push to complete infrastructure projects as quickly as possible has resulted in not only physical alterations to the country, but possibly also cultural and social ones as well.
Tao Hongyi, China director for the bridge builder Dorman Long Technology, succinctly summed up the construction phenomenon - "China is a country driven by dreams, so projects have to meet targets.”
Some say these developments embody the spirit and essence of the National Anthem, which celebrates the independence and moral fibre of the Chinese nation as well as the fortitude and sense of purpose described in the song.
"Tian Tang" was part of "30 Degrees", an exhibition curated by George Michell that showcases rising Chinese artists like Mao Yu, Zhou Jun and Liu Dao and explores the theme of ascension. Liu Dao’s study of the current issues and forces that shape this “country driven by dreams” is both compelling and poignant. [Ching Ling Loo]