Installations

Here is a selection of installations exhibited by Chinese-Australian sculptor Fan Dongwang.

Dragon Installation

Fan Dongwang - The Dragon is at Dawes Point looking out towards Sydney opera house, installation view 2016, produced by Sydney City Council, 6 m long x 2.8 m wide x 4 m high, Moulded steel armature, steel framing, 400 LED globes, nylon fabric.

The dragon is a creature of myth and legend, a symbol of good fortune and sign of intense power. Dragon has the body of a snake, the face of a horse, antlers of the deer and claws of the eagle, the beard of a goat and the scales of a fish. It is a divine beast to deliver good fortune and a master of authority. The Chinese zodiac animal dragon reflects those people born in Dragon years are to be honored and respected, because they have characteristics of a dragon include innovative, enterprising, flexible, self-assured, brave, and passionate. The lantern is a uniquely Australian celebration of the Sydney Chinese New Year Festival.

Dog Installation

Fan Dongwang’s design of two 3.8m high fiberglass dog lantern sculptures was commissioned by the City of Sydney Council for the 2018 Chinese new year celebration in Sydney Chinatown.

2018 is the Chinese Zodiac year of the dog, whose qualities are loyalty, honesty, reliability, compassion, patience, intelligence and courage. This graceful and friendly large fiberglass sitting dog lantern mixes traditional Chinese three dimensional carving techniques with Western pop art colour palettes. The pattern and colour design of this pair of red and blue dogs reflect the fluidity of the opposite quality of Ying and Yang as well as the happy, celebratory atmosphere of the Sydney Chinese New Year festival, with its auspicious symbolism for prosperity, friendship and protection.

Buddha Installation - The Player

Buddhist prayer beads are a traditional tool used to count the number of times a mantra is recited whilst meditating. In this installation, over 1000 DVD-ROMs (each contains DVD videos of Buddhist scriptures, prayers or teachings), stringed together like Buddhist prayer beads, hanging high from cemetery’s trees, shining brilliantly under the sun, chanting in the breeze, praying for the salvation of the dead and buried, wishing them ascension to the Land of Ultimate Bliss, where they remain after death to live a blessed and happy life.