Xu Zhen
Hello
Dimensions : 350 x 600 x 800 cm
Materials : Robotic mechanisms, styrofoam, polyurethane foam, silicone paint, sensors, electronic controls
Year : 2019

“Hello” is a large-scale kinetic and interactive sculpture elaborated from ancient Greek architecture pillars, symbolizing the origin and cornerstone of Western civilization. The work fuses together the classical Greek column shape and the snake’s aggressive biological attitude to stimulate viewers’ perception and experience on classic civilization. The moment the public’s eyes come across the vivacious Corinthian capital also represents a confrontation with the depth of history and civilization, gazing at each other, evoking Friedrich Nietzsche’s saying “If you gaze long enough into an abyss, the abyss will gaze back into you”. Nowadays, with the increasingly frequent blending and impacts among global civilizations, the work constitutes a reality and metaphor on the encounter between civilizations of different time and space.“Hello” involves the combination of art and technology at the border between illusion and reality. It proposes a new vision imbued with Western classical aesthetics and cutting-edge robotics, expanding the concept of traditional sculpture.