The famous British sculptor John Atkin is participating in the Shanghai Lingang City sculpture competition, and as the competition moves to its second stage his design is second amongst 80 entries with over 4000 votes!
John was interviewed by EFEC CSO Andrew Thomson this week.
John’s piece, The Dance, is an appeal to the international: two forms whose positioning is based on an algorithm, that meet at two points but for which there is no one correct angle to view: all views are valid.
As we talked, we shared common ground about the value of a global outlook in these times and the way what John is doing with his wonderful sculpture holds these ambitions dear – as does EFEC with its focus on ‘win-win’ China / UK partnerships.
This has, for example, led to the cooperation with the Cambridge Network (UK) and the set up of Lingang Cambridge Network.
More about the artist, John Atkin
John was sponsored through his training by none other than the world-renowned Henry Moore and the focus of his work is sculptures that fit into the vernacular of historic urban places.
Many Chinese people will know and love the fine sculpture, ‘Strange Meeting’ which was created by John, that was commissioned for the Beijing Olympics and stands in the Olympic Park to this day, admired by its many visitors.
“奇遇” 约翰·阿特金
‘Strange Meeting’ by Sculptor John Atkin
The inspiration for Strange Meeting’, was a poem of the same title by the famed ‘Great War’ poet, Wilfred Owen.
In this poem, the speaker finds himself in a nightmare, where he encounters a soldier from the opposing army. As they converse, it becomes clear that they are both victims of war, and the soldier reveals that the speaker was the one who killed him. This revelation highlights the tragic cycle of violence and the shared humanity of both soldiers, despite being on opposing sides. In the end, they are both reconciled.
The beauty transcends from poem to sculpture and the success of the sculpture in Beijing led to many subsequent visits to China for John, meeting artists, creating, and exhibiting works, teaching and learning on the way from all around him.
The success of the sculpture in Beijing led to many subsequent visits to China for John, meeting artists, creating, and exhibiting works, teaching and learning on the way from all around him.