Will Bear the Land

Zeus Li

wood, scaffolding pole, steel
unique

POA

One of the most rewarding parts of curating this trail was to give an opportunity to a wonderful emerging talent.  Zeus is still completing her art studies however, as the adagage goes, if you’re good enough you’re old enough.  Supporting women in their art careers, from blue chip to future superstars, is the purpose of this trail and we were thrilled to showcase Zeus.

The piece is inspired by the artist’s time spent in China during the pandemic. As safety precautions, scaffolding was used to delineate communities by the Chinese authorities. These industrial blockades might have been seen as impositions, as eyesores. Instead the local communities began to use them to dry laundry, create cooling shade and places to congregate. They started to fulfil the functions of trees, so this sculpture blurs the line between the organic and man made.

This “incomplete” piece, as though in the process of growing, tells a story of optimism through adversity, beauty inspired by a time of immense worldwide fear, and connects wonderfully with Anna Gillespie’s piece Fuse also being exhibited as part of this trail.