warriors
D I A L O G U E
W I T H
T H E
EMPEROR QIN’S
warriors
Professor Michael Caine
Dean, Loughborough University London
Professor Alison Yarrington
Professor of Art History, Loughborough University
On behalf of Loughborough University
London, it’s a privilege to be able to host
this prestigious exhibition with our partners,
Here East, at our new international campus
on the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.
It is a great honour to welcome Dialogue
with the Emperor Qin’s Warriors to the
Olympic Park, the first major exhibition to
be hosted by Loughborough University
London and its partner Here East.
The concept for “Dialogue with the Emperor Qin’s Warriors”
is compelling and resonates strongly in this post-referendum
period of uncertainty and reflection. The focus of the exhibition,
highlighting as it does the importance of Sino-EU cultural
relations, is particularly relevant at this site. The Loughborough
University London community comprises staff and students
drawn from around the world, with the majority of students
originating from Europe and China. Furthermore, London is the
most diverse and popular destination for higher education in
the world attracting over 100,000 international students from
over 200 countries.
Chinese artists first participated in the Venice Biennale in 1993
and, since then, a multiplicity of significant cultural dialogues
and exchanges between artists in the EU and China have
flourished. This travelling exhibition instigated in 2011 by
Dr Pick Keobandith (Director Inspiring Culture – Belgium)
has taken a long and complex route before arriving in East
London. Shown at museums and galleries in China and then
in locations across Europe, it exemplifies the vivifying force of
the creative process whereby 31 Chinese and European artists
engaged with the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the First
Emperor of China’s Mausoleum in Xi’an, Shaanxi Province, to
make the new works that you see here today. This inter-cultural
exchange is of particular relevance in today’s shifting and
often dangerous political landscape, promoting understanding
and debate through the arts. Exhibitions are more than works
on display, as they are a unique means of encountering new
visual thinking. The net result of this is a scrutiny of provocative
and nuanced dialogues between the viewer and the artefacts,
including a consideration of the environment in which they are
displayed. I hope very much that you will enjoy this inspiring
exhibition which exemplifies the importance of international
cultural exchange that is central to higher education today.
Many of the exhibits elicit a powerful response. The collection
challenges us to think about the nature of global relations
and the interdependence of nation states. As an educational
community founded on the values of multi-national, multicultural learning we welcome the opportunity to reflect on the
complexities of these cultural interactions.
I hope you enjoy the exhibition and the opportunity to visit this
new and dynamic part of London, emerging as a Legacy from
the 2012 Olympic Games.
Finally, I’d like to thank John Atkin, Reader in Fine Art,
Loughborough University for his vision and tireless endeavours
in bringing this exhibition to London. Without John’s
perseverance the exhibition would not have been possible.
I would like to thank John Atkin, my colleague in the School of
the Arts, English and Drama of Loughborough University, who
ensured that Dialogue... was able to pause here awhile before
continuing its journey on to the Netherlands and Belgium.
Dr Pick Keobandith
Director of Inspiring Culture
Brussels, September 2016
Rendez-vous for Chinese and European Dialogue at
Here East, London.
This ambitious exhibition is dedicated to all contemporary art lovers and all those who want to
build peace through cultural exchange. It answers a long-lasting need to raise an artistic bridge
between China and Europe.
First created in 2011, with sculptures from 3 Chinese artists and 28 European sculptors (one
from each European country) it presents 31 artists, who decided to enter into a dialogue with
the Emperor Qin. The army that accompanied the Emperor in his everlasting sleep has come
to life again.
Made by renowned European and Chinese artists, the 31 soldiers compose a peace corps
of works, each almost two meters high. It is the contemporary vision of an army that neither
threatens nor looks to conquer. It erases frontiers and cherishes freedom. It embraces the
universal theme of “Messengers of Peace and Generosity”.
With this exhibition, we aim to show many cultures but one humanity.
After touring in eight Chinese museums between 2011 and early 2013, and having been
labeled by the E.U. as an official event of their “ EU-China lnterculturaI Dialogue”, the exhibition
entered its second phase travelling to Tallinn, Tsinandali (Georgia), Lisbon, Bucharest, Sofia
and now London.
This exhibition is made possible thanks to the support of the University of Loughborough and
the Palbric Art Foundation. Both partners aim to bring positive energy to the dialogue and both
are passionate about sharing cultures at a time when so many others instead want to erect
walls. Through Sport and Art they are promoting these principles, which are also at the core of
our exhibition.
We are thankful and proud to have them associated with us in the United Kingdom. I would
also like to thank The KC Group and Beerlao for supporting this exhibition. In the true spirit
of international collaboration I am proud that my home country of Laos can be a part of this
exhibition celebrating what can be achieved when people from across the world work together.
Michael Cukier
Founder & Senior Director of
Palbric Art Foundation Prague
Art is often described as a unique language and like all
languages, it has its own rhythms, its own depths and of course
its own complexities.
Sometimes art is easy to understand, instantly readable, accessible for all. At other times it
takes multiple viewings and dedicated attention to allow for its message to be fully understood.
I believe that is only through art and the use of art’s distinctive language that we are able to
speak to the world about the collective issues that we face today.
In 1972 my grandfather Max Cukier, together with my father and uncle, established The CukierGoldstein Faculty of Humanities at the Ben Gurion University, Negev. Their dream? To help to
support projects in education, culture, health and social welfare.
In the same spirit I decided to expand upon their educational initiative and establish the Palbric
Art Foundation.
Our first project has been to create a series of posters to actively share positive ideas about
integration and its significance to successful immigration, using the work of a little known, but
wonderfully talented Czech/Canadian artist Milos Reindl. The posters have been displayed in
Prague attracting passers-by, people from all walks of life and we have plans to display these
works, as well as his vibrant paintings all around the world.
I am extremely proud to support this exhibition and help to encourage people to look, listen and
learn about other cultures. It is inspiring to find others who want to dedicate their energies to
focus on the positive aspects of what make each of us different from the next.
Art uniting all people under one language. This is truly a celebration of diversity and of the mix
of heritage that we all share and should always be proud of.
I wish you an enjoyable visit and hope you are as inspired as I am!
Austria
Birgit Pleschberger
Peacemakers
Wood, paper and metal
200x50x50 cm
80 kgs
Capital
Vienna
Area
83,855 km2
Population
8.1 million
Currency
Euro
State Form
Republic
Dialogue with Emperor Qin. EU and China Sculpture Show
Belgium
Félix Roulin
Amazone en Armes
Steel
226x120x43 cm
150 kgs
Capital
Brussels
Area
30,528 km2
Population
10.2 million
Currency
Euro
State Form
Monarchy
Dialogue with Emperor Qin. EU and China Sculpture Show
Bulgaria
Zhivko Sedlarski
La Guerriére de la Paix
Steel thermoplaqué
220x60x60 cm
150 kgs
Capital
Sofia
Area
110,994 km2
Population
7.9 million
Currency
Lev
State Form
Republic
Dialogue with Emperor Qin. EU and China Sculpture Show
China
Yun Gang Chen
Have a Rest
Glass reinforced plastic
110x190x80 cm
100 kgs
Capital
Beijing
Area
9596,960 km2
Population
1.3 billion
Currency
Yuan
State Form
Republic
Dialogue with Emperor Qin. EU and China Sculpture Show
China
Shao Jun Wang
Veteran
Glass reinforced plastic
140x190x80 cm
150 kgs
Capital
Beijing
Area
9596,960 km2
Population
1.3 billion
Currency
Yuan
State Form
Republic
Dialogue with Emperor Qin. EU and China Sculpture Show
China
Kun Zhang
Sound from Heaven
Glass reinforced plastic
220x190x120 cm
375 kgs
Capital
Beijing
Area
9596,960 km2
Population
1.3 billion
Currency
Yuan
State Form
Republic
Dialogue with Emperor Qin. EU and China Sculpture Show
Croatia
Božica Dea Matasić
Panacea
Led weight, polyester resin, glass fibres, gelcoat,
metallic varnish and transparent semi-glossy varnish
180x75x75 cm
110 kgs
Capital
Zagreb
Area
56,594 km2
Population
4.4 million
Currency
Kuna
State Form
Republic
Dialogue with Emperor Qin. EU and China Sculpture Show
Cyprus
Lia Lapithi Shukuroglou
Blue Legs with Flag
Fibre glass, bronze and stainless steel
200x60x30 cm
80 kgs
Capital
Nicosia
Area
9,251 km2
Population
0.8 million
Currency
Euro
State Form
Republic
Dialogue with Emperor Qin. EU and China Sculpture Show
Czech Republic
Alena Matějka
Flaming Stele
Mould melted glass
115x70x20 cm
250 kgs
Capital
Prague
Area
78,866 km2
Population
10.5 million
Currency
Czech Koruna
State Form
Republic
Dialogue with Emperor Qin. EU and China Sculpture Show
Denmark
Poul Baekhoj
Xian Butterfly
Granite and plywood
160x36x33 cm
40 kgs
Capital
Copenhagen
Area
43,075 km2
Population
5.3 million
Currency
Danish Krone
State Form
Monarchy
Dialogue with Emperor Qin. EU and China Sculpture Show
Estonia
Tiiu Kirsipuu
SoulLand (2009)
Metal and plastic
182x47x47 cm
51 kgs
Capital
Tallinn
Area
45,227 km2
Population
1.3 million
Currency
Euro
State Form
Republic
Dialogue with Emperor Qin. EU and China Sculpture Show
Finland
Antero Toikka
In the Parc
Painted wood
167x57x57 cm
305 kgs
Capital
Helsinki
Area
338,145 km2
Population
5.2 million
Currency
Euro
State Form
Republic
Dialogue with Emperor Qin. EU and China Sculpture Show
France
Alain Clément
Untitled
Steel, paint and reinforced cardboard
250x80x80 cm
400 kgs
Capital
Paris
Area
545,965 km2
Population
59.2 million
Currency
Euro
State Form
Republic
Dialogue with Emperor Qin. EU and China Sculpture Show
Germany
Gloria Friedmann
Marching to Absurdistan
Steel and leather
177x150x50 cm
85 kgs
Capital
Berlin
Area
357,868 km2
Population
82 million
Currency
Euro
State Form
Republic
Dialogue with Emperor Qin. EU and China Sculpture Show
Greece
Kostis Georgiou
Allegoria 2
Aluminium
175x60x44 cm
82 kgs
Capital
Athens
Area
131,957 km2
Population
10.6 million
Currency
Euro
State Form
Republic
Dialogue with Emperor Qin. EU and China Sculpture Show
Hungary
Apolka Eros
Veteran
Mild steel
192x105x80 cm
236 kgs
Capital
Budapest
Area
93,030 km2
Population
10 million
Currency
Forint
State Form
Republic
Dialogue with Emperor Qin. EU and China Sculpture Show
Ireland
Linda Brunker
Gala’s garden
Bronze
210x65x35 cm
121 kgs
Capital
Dublin
Area
70,282 km2
Population
3.8 million
Currency
Euro
State Form
Republic
Dialogue with Emperor Qin. EU and China Sculpture Show
Italy
Alessandro Filippini
21 times Infinity
Stainless steel and wood
340x270x40 cm
130 kgs
Capital
Rome
Area
301,245 km2
Population
57.5 million
Currency
Euro
State Form
Republic
Dialogue with Emperor Qin. EU and China Sculpture Show
Latvia
Aigars Bikse
Peace for the World
Pine wood, mixed media, glass and reinforced acrylic acid
196x97x49 cm
103 kgs
Capital
Riga
Area
64,589 km2
Population
2.2 million
Currency
Lats
State Form
Republic
Dialogue with Emperor Qin. EU and China Sculpture Show
Lithuania
Martynas Gaubas
Peacemaker
Bronze and wood
196x96x45 cm
220 kgs
Capital
Vilnius
Area
65,200 km2
Population
3.2 million
Currency
Lithuanian litas
State Form
Republic
Dialogue with Emperor Qin. EU and China Sculpture Show
Luxembourg
Marie-Josée Kerschen
En Attendant, La Guerrière Avance
Oak wood
145x30x30 cm
77 kgs
Capital
Luxembourg
Area
2,586 km2
Population
0.5 million
Currency
Euro
State Form
Monarchy
Dialogue with Emperor Qin. EU and China Sculpture Show
Malta
Anton Grech
Drone Warrior
Cast concrete
138x48x42 cm
100 kgs
Capital
Valletta
Area
316 km2
Population
0.4 million
Currency
Euro
State Form
Republic
Dialogue with Emperor Qin. EU and China Sculpture Show
Netherlands
Hanneke Beaumont
Untitled
Bronze
125x122x95 cm
130 kgs
Capital
Amsterdam
Area
41,526 km2
Population
15.9 million
Currency
Euro
State Form
Monarchy
Dialogue with Emperor Qin. EU and China Sculpture Show
Poland
Piotr Twardowski
Rider
Steel
214x62x54 cm
250 kgs
Capital
Warsaw
Area
312,685 km2
Population
38.6 million
Currency
Zloty
State Form
Republic
Dialogue with Emperor Qin. EU and China Sculpture Show
Portugal
José de Guimarães
Xian Warrior
Wood, neon and lead
247x141x37 cm
75 kgs
Capital
Lisbon
Area
88,94 km2
Population
10 million
Currency
Euro
State Form
Republic
Dialogue with Emperor Qin. EU and China Sculpture Show
Romania
Marian Sava
Harmonie
Wood
139x12x12 cm
60kgs
Capital
Bucharest
Area
237,500 km2
Population
22.4 million
Currency
Romanian Leu
State Form
Republic
Dialogue with Emperor Qin. EU and China Sculpture Show
Slovakia
Ján Ťapák
The Tree (Strom)
Welded Bronze
79x64x54 cm
60 kgs
Capital
Bratislavia
Area
49,035 km2
Population
5.4 million
Currency
Euro
State Form
Republic
Dialogue with Emperor Qin. EU and China Sculpture Show
Slovenia
Bostjan Drinovec
Postmodern Man
Steel
150x90x210 cm
500 kgs
Capital
Ljubljana
Area
20,253 km2
Population
2 million
Currency
Euro
State Form
Republic
Dialogue with Emperor Qin. EU and China Sculpture Show
Spain
Francisco Pazos Martinez
Warrior
Granite and steel
180x75x65 cm
130 kgs
Capital
Madrid
Area
504,782 km2
Population
39.9 million
Currency
Euro
State Form
Monarchy
Dialogue with Emperor Qin. EU and China Sculpture Show
Sweden
Lars Widenfalk
Heads
Cast crystal glass
40x19x9 cm
130 kgs
Capital
Stockholm
Area
444,964km2
Population
8.8 million
Currency
Swedish Krona
State Form
Monarchy
Dialogue with Emperor Qin. EU and China Sculpture Show
United Kingdom
John Atkin
Twister
Cast concrete
220x65x66 cm
120 kgs
Capital
London
Area
242,534 km2
Population
59.4 million
Currency
Pound
State Form
Monarchy
Dialogue with Emperor Qin. EU and China Sculpture Show
Chinese museums included:
• Shaanxi Provincial Art Museum
• Hubei Art Museum
• Fujian Art Museum
• Ningbo Art Museum
• Heilongjiang Art Museum
• Changchun world sculpture Park
• Suzhou Art Museum
• Dalian Zhongshan Art Museum
The exhibition has now moved out of China and has
been exhibited in Tallinn-Estonia, Tsinandali-Georgia,
Lisboa-Portugal, Bucharest-Romania, Sofia-Bulgaria,
and will be exhibited in Rotterdam later this year,
concluding in Belgium in 2017.
Dialogue with the
Emperor Qin’s Warriors
A contemporary interpretation of a historical collection
Inspiring Culture – Union & Dissolution
The “Dialogue with the Emperor Qin’s Warriors” exhibition,
instigated by Dr Pick Keobandith (Director Inspiring Culture
– Belgium) was initiated in 2012 as a project that culturally
reinforces and adds to existing Sino – EU cultural relations.
Twenty-eight Artists from each EU country as well as three Chinese artists
were invited by “Inspiring Culture” to visit the world renowned Terracotta
Warriors in Xian, China and to consider ways that these icons of the
Emperor Qin’s reign could be reinterpreted within popular culture of the
21st Century. Each artist responded to the collection of warriors, acrobats
and servants in a myriad of different ways, and in so doing reflected a
discreet aspect of their own individual culture within the EU by making a
sculpture that responded to this ancient collection.
The results have been exhibited throughout China at a number of museums
and galleries in order to widen the appreciation of European contemporary
art practice to an audience that might not be familiar with the nuances of
Western Art. These new audiences, familiar with the cultural significance of
their own “Terracotta Warriors”, would be able to view, first hand, the variety
of ways that the selected Western Artists interpreted this iconic collection
alongside the works of three contemporary Chinese artists. The exhibitions
were an unprecedented success drawing large crowds, press attention,
and international Awards for the organizers of the exhibition.
The significant impact of this exhibition, at a time of
unique political flux because of BREXIT, demonstrates
inimitable interpretations of this famous collection
through contemporary art practice within the historical
genre of cultural identity. The British Museum first
showed aspects of the Xian collection (120 objects
from the mausoleum and 12 Terracotta Warriors) in
September 2007 “The First Emperor: China’s Terracotta
Army” with visitor numbers in excess of 400,000: at
Chinese New Year the British Museum were forced
to close its doors because of the popularity of the
exhibition. Press commentary at the time focused on the
exhibition providing visitors with a rare chance to view
extraordinary objects as well as face to face encounters
with China’s past, present and possible futures.
However a contemporary exhibition, which articulates
contemporary ideas of EU-Sino relations through contemplation
of the these historic antiquities is novel, as well as culturally
important - bringing together connectivity between the EU and
China at the twilight of the UK’s involvement in European identity.
Here (East) we can give visitors the opportunity to have faceto-face encounters with an actual “Dialogue with the Emperor
Qins Warriors” through the contemporary adaptation of a historic
collection, at time of momentous political change.
The exhibition is also important because at its core the Warriors
deal with notions of conflict & defense (one of the purposes of the
Terracotta Warriors was to protect the Emperor in his afterlife),
at a time of continuing war & conflict throughout the globe, and
simultaneously at a time of historic reflection on The Great War.
I’m indebted to the Enterprise Committee of Loughborough
University for the faith they have placed in me bringing this
exhibition together, as well as Dr. Pick Keobandith for her
unfaltering determination to bring the concept together in the first
place. It has been a monumental effort, ably supported by her
team in China and Europe.
In closing, I would like to thank Prof Michael Cane for his
unwavering support for this exhibition as well as Prof Alison
Yarrington for her commitment to establish a significant cultural
footprint between the East Midlands and Olympic Park.
John Atkin, Reader in Fine Art
School of the Arts English & Drama
Project
Inspiring Culture
International Commissioner
Dr Pick Keobandith assisted by Edward Liddle
Organisation
Loughborough University and Inspiring Culture
Exhibition Curator
John Atkin, Reader in Fine Art, Loughborough University
Press
Loughborough University and Inspiring Culture
Inspiring Culture would like to thank the collaborative efforts of everyone at
Loughborough University for organising and supporting this exhibition.
ISBN 978 1 911217 09 1
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