Ullens Center for Contemporary Ar presents Zhang Huan Hope Tunnel, open through October 24, 2010.
Zhang Huan, Hope Tunnel. Work in progress, 2010. Courtesy of the artist. Zhang Huan Studio, Shanghai. Photo: Zhang Huan Studio © 2010 Zhang Huan
Every so often there comes an event that rattles our faith, shatters what we have built and shakes us to our very foundations. The 2008 Sichuan earthquake was one such tragedy. No one who witnessed the terrible destruction and loss of life will ever forget it.
Yet in the aftermath of tragedy there is hope, a reminder of what people working together can achieve. Zhang Huan’s Hope Tunnel , a curated social project at UCCA, was conceived and designed by an artist who believes that art has the power not just to move us emotionally, but to galvanize us into positive action.
When we behold the train that Zhang Huan purchased, refurbished and installed here, we may find ourselves dwarfed by the scale of the wreckage, dismayed by the destructive force of nature and daunted by the challenges that lie ahead. Perhaps we should feel humbled by the shadow of that awesome bulk, but as the title reminds us, while we may be small, we are not powerless. Through remembrance, reflection and concerted action, each one of us has the power to help—and to hope. Jérôme Sans, UCCA Director
UCCA
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