WHAT

In 2003, British artist Antony Gormley invited around 300 people of all ages from Xiangshan village (now Huadong Town in Guangzhou city) to make approximately 200,000 clay figurines over five days. There were three simple instructions: each figurine had to be hand-sized, capable of standing up, and have two eyes. Otherwise, each maker was free to improvise. This installation belongs to Field, a series that Gormley began in 1989. In each location, the artist uses locally sourced clay and enlists local communities to mould the figures by hand. By far the biggest and most ambitious work in the series, Asian Field reflects China’s vast territory and large population.

WHY 

What can we say – this is a truly monumental and fabulous installation that should be seen first-hand. Besides the very impressive ‘field’ of sculptures, viewers also get to see a presentation of photographs by Zhang Hai’er, who captured and documented the making of ‘Asian Field’. With makers and figurines paired up in a series of photo portraits, they offer a glimpse ‘behind the scenes’, and also capture the poignancy and magnitude of the project.