On permanent loan from the artist
INV2004.1
the poem of the university of pittsburgh
2004 (Date collected)
2004 (Date created)
2004 (Date created)
Assemblages
Chinese
Series of nine neon Chinese characters spelling "University Pittsburgh" phonetically. The sounds "you-ni-fu-se-ti" and "bi-ci-bao-ge" can give a different translation, such as "shiny neon floats on colorful silk green China treasure pavilion".
Gu Wenda is a contemporary Chinese artist known for his use of unusual material, such as human hair, and his work with calligraphy and poetry. In 2004, the University Art Gallery commissioned this neon piece, which is the fourth installation in a series referred to as the “neon phrase series”.
This piece contains neon lights that form Chinese characters and their Roman alphabet syllables that, when pronounced, sound like “University Pittsburgh”. Underneath the phonetic syllables is an English translation, “shiny – neon – blows on – colorful – silk – green – china – treasure – pavillion”.
Gu Wenda’s contemporary piece provides an interesting juxtaposition to the classics of European Renaissance art celebrated in the Nicholas Lochoff Cloister, furthering the building’s goal of providing students with a wide variety of artistic experiences.
This piece contains neon lights that form Chinese characters and their Roman alphabet syllables that, when pronounced, sound like “University Pittsburgh”. Underneath the phonetic syllables is an English translation, “shiny – neon – blows on – colorful – silk – green – china – treasure – pavillion”.
Gu Wenda’s contemporary piece provides an interesting juxtaposition to the classics of European Renaissance art celebrated in the Nicholas Lochoff Cloister, furthering the building’s goal of providing students with a wide variety of artistic experiences.
In Collection
Gu Wenda
Piller, Josie N., ed. "Out of Time, Out of Place, Out of China: Reinventing Chinese Tradition in a New Century", 2004, p. 5 and p. 8-11.
Please note that cataloging is ongoing and that some information may not be complete.