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CITYCENTERDC AND THE DOWNTOWNDC BID BRING LARGER-THAN-LIFE SCULPTURES BY HUNG YI TO DOWNTOWN WASHINGTON, DC
CityCenterDC and the DowntownDC BID are bringing the Fancy Animal Carnival, by renowned Taiwanese contemporary artist Hung Yi, to Washington.
WASHINGTON, DC – Whimsical, larger than life sculptures have arrived in Downtown DC for all to enjoy as part of the Fancy Animal Carnival installation, by renowned Taiwanese contemporary artist Hung Yi. Through the partnership of CityCenterDC and the DowntownDC Business Improvement District (BID), five massive, colorful animals will be displayed from May 4 to Oct. 15, 2017 at CityCenterDC (825 10th Street NW), Chinatown Park (6th & Massachusetts Ave NW), and Herald Square (13th & New York Ave NW). Visitors are encouraged to share their photos and experiences with the art using hashtag #fancyanimalcarnival.
Each of the animal sculptures represents a narrative expressed through traditional Taiwanese symbols and motifs believed to bring luck. The painted patterns reflect folk culture and religion, as well as the artist’s personal experiences and observations of people’s everyday lives. The colors and depictions painted on the surface of his sculptures are not realistic depictions of animal fur or limbs, but rather three-dimensional paintings full of surreal cultural representations, suffused with narrative. Much of this subject matter comes from Taiwanese society, but has also been influenced by artists such as Pablo Picasso, Salvador Dali, and Joan Miro.
Known as one of the best Taiwanese contemporary artists in Asia, Hung Yi’s magnificent works are inspired by his every day interactions with society and nature. He individually forges steel plates, and adds to their surface a rich palette of painted symbols and forms from Taiwanese folk art and daily life. Finished works have undergone multiple processes, including welding, forging, polishing, and enameling. His artwork transfers the two-dimensional language of painting into three-dimensional sculpture, expressing a unique and unusual perspective that invokes joy and happiness in its viewers.
“We are thrilled to have Hung Yi’s sculptures here in Washington, DC – his imaginative forms and lively use of color enliven the already spirited streets of downtown DC,” said Mayor Bowser. “The Fancy Animal Carnival will benefit residents and visitors alike and will inspire all of us to support creative artists and entrepreneurs who continue to make Washington, DC a tremendous place to live and to visit.”
“These elaborate, intricately painted forms add an element of surprise and delight to our public spaces that the community will enjoy. Both whimsical and technical, the art is a must-see during the time it’s here in town” said Timothy R. Lowery, General Manager of CityCenterDC.
“We are delighted to have helped make it possible for Hung Yi’s Fancy Animal Carnival to be on display for all of DowntownDC’s residents, workers and visitors to enjoy,” said Neil O. Albert, president and executive director of the DowntownDC BID “This vibrant, public art installation enhances the community of DowntownDC in so many ways and we can’t wait to see how these animals create new dialogue and activity in our city this year.”
Hosted and sponsored by CityCenterDC and the DowntownDC BID, the exhibit was also made possible through support from the U. S. National Park Service, the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts, the National Capital Planning Commission, the Government of the District of Columbia including the District Department of Transportation and the Commission on the Arts and Humanities, Oxford Properties and Gould Property Company.
The Fancy Animal Carnival is also mobile! As a way to expand the Fancy Animal Carnival, a miniature Triumphant Double Sheep created by Hung Yi, will be circulated throughout DowntownDC during the six-month installation. Programming and activation surrounding the exhibit will be available to the public throughout the installation. Details on the art and programming will be available at citycenterdc.com/FAC.
An additional sculpture by Hung Yi will be on display in front of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative’s (TECRO) building on Wisconsin Avenue as well as several other pieces exhibited in TECRO’s Twin Oaks Estate.
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About CityCenterDC:
Fancy Animal Carnival is part of the 2017 Public Space Programming calendar that was created by the CityCenterDC Common Area Association. CityCenterDC’s ownership created the Common Area Association to provide for the maintenance, operation, and programming of the Common Areas. The Common Area Association strives to foster a unique, truly-exceptional, pedestrian-friendly mixed-use urban environment that includes office, retail, residential, civic/cultural and entertainment uses. Moreover, it seeks to preserve a place that is first and foremost for the city and its residents, and appeals to Downtown workers and visitors. The Common Area Association works to maintain a great urban space with the highest level of quality and innovation in urban design, integrate the visual and performing arts throughout the site, establish new and lasting traditions, and facilitate street-oriented retail success. For more information on CityCenterDC please visit www.CityCenterDC.com and follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter - @CityCenterDC.
About the DowntownDC Business Improvement District
The DowntownDC Business Improvement District (BID) is a private non-profit organization that provides capital improvements, resources and research to help diversify the economy and enhance the Downtown experience for all. This special district, where property owners have agreed to tax themselves to fund services, encompasses a 138-block area of approximately 520 buildings from Massachusetts Avenue on the north to Constitution Avenue on the south, and from Louisiana Avenue on the east to 16th Street on the west. As a catalyst, facilitator and thought leader, the DowntownDC BID promotes public/private partnerships to help make DowntownDC So Much More. For more information, visit DowntownDC.org or follow us on Twitter @downtowndcbid.
About Hung Yi
Known as one of the best Taiwanese contemporary artists in Asia, Hung Yi engulfs the viewer in feelings of harmony and auspiciousness. Hung Yi’s inspiration comes from his observations of the life around him and his own experiences. His artwork expresses a unique and unusual perspective that invokes joy and happiness in its viewers. Hung Yi graduated from Taichung City’s Mingdao High School in 1988, where he studied Art and Design. Since the 1990’s, Hung Yi has received ample recognition for his art installations in public spaces. In 2000, Hung Yi was selected for Central Taiwan’s prestigious contemporary art residency program, Art Stock 20. In 2005, the Museum of Contemporary Art, Taipei, gave Hung Yi an outdoor exhibition. In Hung Yi’s world, animals and humans are friends living in harmony, and therefore, when he sculpts animals, he animates them with his insight. After working tirelessly for more than a decade, Hung Yi and Insian Gallery have been invited repeatedly to have grand solo exhibitions, including in: Taipei Expo Park, Taichung City Hall Plaza, and National Taiwan Museum of Fine Arts. In more recent years, Hung Yi has been focusing on international large-scale exhibitions. In 2013, he was invited to exhibit in the largest sculptural park in Asia - Hakone Open-air Museum in Tokyo, and again in 2014, in Maritime Square, Hong Kong. In 2015, Hung Yi and his animals landed in west coast of United States of America in San Francisco Civic Center Plaza. From September 2016 – April 2017 his works have been displayed in the Garment District of Manhattan.
About Insian Gallery
Founded in 1987 by Victor Ou, InSian Gallery has dedicated itself to organizing important exhibitions of contemporary and modern art. InSian Gallery has always regarded promoting arts and culture of Taiwan as its main purpose and has cultivated for nearly three decades in Taiwan's creative art industry. Our idea of integrity has established a well-respected image and reputation between artists and art collectors. The most important goal of our gallery is to popularize contemporary art to daily lives of people and provide Taiwan and the world beyond a better environment for art.