The mould sections were transported by truck from Chongqing to Qinghai, and cast in concrete over a gigantic steel armature on a large concrete base. The dramatic high-elevation desert plateau framed by mountains makes a perfect location for this technically challenging public sculpture.
Zhang Yaxi was awarded the prestigious Excellence Prize for Urban Sculpture
by the National Urban Sculpture Association of China for this "Mother and Child" sculpture.
In view of the fact that thousands of new urban sculptures are commissioned and created in China every year, this is a remarkable achievement. The Association published in 2009 a book featuring the 100 best public sculptures created in China between 1949 and 2009
and this sculpture features among them.
(Above) Zhang Yaxi created her large-scale 16mx7mx6m sculpture in the huge sculpture studio at the Sichuan Fine Arts Institute in Chongqing where she teaches sculpture in the Design Department
An image created by photographer David McBride of Zhang Yaxi's Mother and Child sculpture - showing the sculptor working on her monumental sculpture at the clay stage
Photo credit: David McBride
(Above) Chinese sculptor Zhang Yaxi and a team of technical assistants re-assembled plaster mould sections over a steel armature to create the final cast-concrete sculpture. This was then coated in resin and sprinkled with tiny stone particles.
(Above) Local Qinghai children seem dwarfed by the monolithic monumental sculpture of Chinese sculptor Zhang Yaxi on the outskirts of Golmud
(Above) Rear view of this public sculpture - a permanent reminder of Goldmud's importance as a gateway to Tibet from China
(Above) Zhang Yaxi's gigantic public work - a monumental sculpture in cast-concrete
(Above) Sculptor Zhang Yaxi's Mother and Child - a public work which is a technical feat from an artistic as well as a structural perspective.
Zhang Yaxi is proud that her sculpture features among the 100 selected for inclusion in the book published by the National Sculpture Association recapping the 1949-2009 period of Chinese sculpture
Certificate of Excellence in Urban / City Sculpture in China
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