Xu Bing's Phoenix Sculptures Installed at New York Cathedral, Made from Beijing Construction Debris
Between March 1, 2014, and January 2015, New York's Cathedral of Saint John the Divine hosted an impressive sculpture project by Chinese artist Xu Bing called Phoenix (2008-10). This installation consists of two enormous mythical birds, each reaching a height of 18 feet, made from reclaimed materials found at construction sites in Beijing. Xu was motivated to create these sculptures after witnessing the lives of migrant workers in the city. He turned down offers from developers to encase the sculptures in crystal, which meant he lost the original commission. The pieces were purchased by Barry Lam, the president of a Taiwanese tech company. Before coming to New York, Phoenix was exhibited in Beijing, at the Shanghai World Expo 2010, and MassMoCA. Since moving to New York in 1990, Xu has explored themes of transformation.
Key facts
- Phoenix sculptures installed at Cathedral of Saint John the Divine March 1, 2014 to January 2015
- Sculptures composed entirely of salvaged materials from Beijing construction sites
- Xu Bing conceived project after witnessing migrant laborers' harsh working conditions
- Artist refused to encase sculptures in crystal, losing original commission
- Barry Lam, Taiwanese computer company president, purchased the artworks
- Previously exhibited at Today Art Museum Beijing, Shanghai World Expo 2010, and MassMoCA
- Sculptures measure 18 feet tall and installed in cathedral nave
- Xu Bing lived in New York for 18 years before returning to China in 2008
Entities
Artists
- Xu Bing
Institutions
- Cathedral of Saint John the Divine
- Today Art Museum
- Shanghai World Expo 2010
- MassMoCA
Locations
- New York
- United States
- Beijing
- China
- North Adams
- Massachusetts
- Washington, D.C.
- Taiwan