Steve Messam celebrates the New Year in China, showcasing his giant inflatable art in Chengdu, part of the city’s festive events.
In Chengdu, he installed a giant inflatable artwork at Tiangfu Art Park. This piece is part of the city’s Chinese New Year celebrations. Before that, he stopped in Shanghai to see another installation called Packaged.
Steve has visited China over a dozen times in the last 20 years. His latest work, Below, was made in a small factory in the mountains. It has caught the attention of locals, just like his previous Shanghai project.
The Chengdu installation is massive, with each half the size of a house. Steve loves working with bridges and wanted to explore their function. His piece allows people to walk over and under it, creating a unique experience.
The artwork’s vibrant colors and shapes resemble blooming hibiscus flowers, adding to the city’s beauty. In Shanghai, Packaged transformed a historic warehouse, showcasing large yellow box shapes bursting from doorways.
Steve has been visiting Shanghai for nearly 20 years. He’s seen the city change rapidly, especially along the Suzhou Creek. He noticed the volume of goods transported by bicycles and tricycles, which inspired his work.
The warehouse for Packaged was built for the China Industrial Bank. Steve’s team cut and sewed over 1000 meters of polyester fabric in just four days. He appreciates the skill of the tailors who helped bring his vision to life.
