The kinetic-sculpture in Luohu, Shenzhen completed on Jan. 6, 2022 has recently come into service, making for a unique, vibrant scenic spot in the bustling neighborhood. Seated at the intersection of Heping Road (northern end) and Jiefang Road, the sculpture adjoins Laojie metro station and neighbors Guangzhou-Shenzhen Railway to the east. The area where the installation lies has witnessed the ups and downs of Luohu district over the past 40 years of reform and opening up. A work of Meng Architects (SZAD) led by academician Meng Jianmin, the sculpture themed on The Vibrant City is meant to highlight the refreshing ethos and envision the brilliant prospects of Luohu.
The sculpture in its geometric shape echoes the high-rises springing up in Shenzhen since the reform and opening up policy was initiated. It consists of six groups of clustering concentric fan-shaped pieces, with the largest group being 12 meters high and 4 meters in diameter. The mechanical driver below the sculpture base causes the fan-shaped pieces to rotate slowly, establishing a staggered trajectory with intertwining layers to depict the free form of "a vibrant city".
The cylinders are featured with cupreous metallic paint on the outside representing the "past" of Shenzhen, while the mirror stainless steel reflecting the urban skyline on the inside implies the "future" of the city. The uniformly varying pattern of the sculpture mimics the changing urban skyline, telling a story of ceaseless progress, renewal and transformation. What’s more impressive, the sculpture can switch to typhoon defense mode, where its fan-shaped pieces all turn into closed cylinders that can greatly weaken the impact force of the atrocious weather frequently seen in Shenzhen during the monsoon season. Well-designed atmosphere lights on the inside of the sculpture’s marble base adds to its display effect at night. The resulting layered halo enhances the stacked effect of the installation while preventing reflected light from affecting driving safety. The aesthetical work represents an inspiring practice of kinetic-sculpture design by Meng Architects.