Blue Mount's "The Yangtze": A Majestic Tribute to Wuhan's Iconic River

Art Installation Merges History, Culture, and Innovation in K11 Mall

Wuhan, the most populated city in Central China, is divided into three districts by the Yangtze River. This iconic waterway has been a vehicle for culture, prosperity, and civilization for over three centuries. With the opening of K11 in the Guanggu neighborhood of Wuhan, the river branches off and enters through the West gate in the form of an art installation, "The Yangtze." This piece is a mutual welcoming between the art mall and the Hubei capital.

"The Yangtze" is the first of its kind. K11 is a brand of premium shopping malls that merges retail and fine arts. For their Wuhan opening, Blue Mount won the bid to create an eye-catching, one-of-a-kind art piece to be suspended in the atrium of the main West entrance. Weighing 3 tonnes, the artwork mimics flows of the famed river, finished in gold and silver for a touch of luxury.

The design and rendering of "The Yangtze" were done via 3D modeling software Autodesk 3ds Max and V-Ray. Due to its scale and the free-handedness of its curvatures, the actual artwork is to be sculpted in segments out of polystyrene so that moulds could be made with fiberglass. Other materials include machine-bent metal tubes, LED flexible neons, and resin fish in chromed silver and gold finishes.

The construction of "The Yangtze" is made more difficult by the fact that it will weigh approximately 3 tonnes. Blue Mount is working with Hong Kong-based engineers and hanging specialist to create custom rigging to reinforce the structure of the atrium to offer maximum support for this art piece.

"The Yangtze" is an art installation with a message of hope and prosperity behind its conception and realization. Just as the ancient river has brought growth and success to the city, this piece of artwork carries a very positive message that celebrates Wuhan's geographical and historical background as well as Guanggu district's developments in advanced technologies. This sculpture expresses an appreciation for Wuhan's old traditions and helps viewers to look forward to the future.

The project started its conceptual stages in Hong Kong in late 2016. The final design was completed in the summer of 2017 and will be exhibited in K11 Wuhan Guanggu (China) after the mall's grand-opening during the Chinese New Year of 2018. The greatest challenge in realizing "The Yangtze" was managing its weight and size within an oversized atrium space. With no chance of changing the design, Blue Mount worked with engineers and hanging specialists to create a set of 12 custom-made rigging to reinforce the mall's ceiling and produce a safe and sound structure. This Design was awarded Silver in A' Fine Arts and Art Installation Design Award in 2018.