Bund bull testament to artist’s love of China
ON New York’s Wall Street is the well-known “Charging Bull” sculpture, a symbol of the financial district that celebrates the “strength and determination” of the American people. It is a tourist draw and symbol of Wall Street power.
Similarly in Shanghai, on the iconic Bund, the throngs of domestic and overseas tourists today are also attracted to a bronze bull vividly crafted and full of vitality.
Many stop to admire, take pictures, or touch the horns in an auspicious move suggesting one’s good fortune would charge forward, just like the bull.
Arturo Di Modica was the man behind both sculptures.
His death on February 19 plunged his hometown of Vittoria in Italy into deep grief.
At the funeral, a host of Italian cultural figures, artists and statesmen paid their respects to this master sculptor. An official from Vittoria delivered a memorial speech written by me, which testified to our contacts and his feelings for Shanghai.
In 2009, the Year of the Ox in the Chinese calendar, in anticipation of the World Expo 2010 Shanghai, the Bund at the eastern end of Fuzhou Road was named the Bund Financial Center, as a token of the city’s long history as a financial center. Urban landscaping experts and residents proposed that, in light of the practice in major international financial hubs, an icon was needed for the city as a financial hub.
After much discussion it was agreed that a bull should be erected that could match the Wall Street version, to give full play to the city’s ambition to become a financial hub of international stature.
Soon I received a call from a city leader asking me to try my best to invite Di Modica, creator of the Wall Street bull, to work on the Shanghai version.
After making many trips from Sicily to North America, I got to meet this world-class artist in New York.
I was snubbed at the very beginning, though — Di Modica said he was working on “The Horses of the Ippari” — bronze horses he hoped would be placed on the Ippari river in his hometown. This would prevent him from making any trip to China before March 2010.
Undaunted, I tried to persuade him by quoting the Chinese saying “seeing is believing,” with the message that given China’s rapid economic growth and the completion of the Bund renovations expected before the 2010 Expo, the creation of a bronze bull on the Bund would be a prelude to the Expo and a rare chance to showcase Shanghai to the rest of the world.
Ultimately the expectation and sincerity on the part of Shanghai brought him round and he agreed to sculpt a bronze bull for the city.
On March 21, 2009, I escorted Di Modica on his first trip to China. On his arrival in Shanghai, he was stunned by this mesmerizing Oriental pearl. As the inspection deepened, he gained a keen interest in this country where tradition goes side by side with modernity. In the process of sculpting the bull, the artist would sometimes demonstrate the curiosity more proper to children, by asking me repeatedly: “What’s the favorite color for Chinese?” or “What exactly does reserve mean in Chinese culture?”
Sometimes, in his feverish pursuit of perfection, he would give up the original plan multiple times. In our communication, I had to explain to him how red had come to feature so prominently in Chinese history, the century-old ordeal for the Chinese people, the choice of our own unique path of development, and our
indomitable spirit, until one day Di Modica told me excitedly that he seemed to have attained enlightenment about the cultural differences between the East and the West.
With no small pride he would propound that while the head of the Charging Bull on Wall Street turns to the left, the Bund version would turn to the right. Yet, in spite of this difference, both are symbols of strength
and determination.
He also explained that while the tail of the Wall Street bull curls more gently, the Bund version appears to turn upward, prophesying China’s inevitable rise in spite of the vicissitudes it has experienced. On that occasion, I was left speechless, awed by his ingenuity clearly attributable to artistic inspiration.
Ultimately, thanks to the collaborative effort of Di Modica’s around 40-member team in Wyoming, the US, the Bund bull was shipped to Shanghai on the eve of the opening ceremony of the 2010 Expo, as a gift to the Chinese people.
On May 15, 2010, at the launch ceremony, Di Modica told the hundreds of guests and media present: “Out of my heartfelt love for the Chinese and Shanghai people, I have crafted this Bund Financial Bull, in my belief that this work, imbued with my fondest wishes, would bring good luck to China and Shanghai.”
Through my contacts with Di Modica, from New York to his hometown, we developed a strong friendship. Obviously, his work goes beyond this product for the Bund Financial Center. There is a stronger message: This is a work for the Chinese people.
To this day, his remarks resonated with me. He has initiated me into the creativity of Italian artists, the warmth of Sicilians and his friendship for the Chinese people. He is a real artist, for his work has attained an intensity, depth and essence only possible with true artists.
In an obituary issued by the city of Vittoria, it is said that it had lost a distinguished resident, an intelligent artist with foresight, who had added significantly to the international prestige of the city with his remarkable ability and initiatives. It is my sincere belief that, over the past 12 years, the Bund Financial Bull has testified to Shanghai’s innovative development and our cooperative friendship.
Di Modica has passed away, but he will be long remembered by the people. It is hoped that his stories will continue to be told, giving people inspiration and hope.
Putuo District has set out a new urban renewal blueprint to further improve the living standards of the area. The northwest downtown district has penciled in an upgrade of its waterways and riverside regions a plan to create additional parks and increase safety standards in old residential communities and improve its roads.
The district government released a five-year action plan with specific timelines to develop a friendly ecological system, improve public services and feature attractions along Suzhou Creek and Taopu River.
Director of Putuo, Jiang Dongdong, says the action plan marks the beginning of an urban redevelopment campaign in the area.
“The district will focus on the blue networks, green arteries, orange circles and a comfortable living environment with beautiful roads,” Jiang said at the blueprint launch. “We shall let the city keep its memory, while creating values with an urban renewal campaign.”
Jiang promised to respect and protect all historical buildings along Suzhou Creek.
In the first decade of the 20th century, Chinese entrepreneurs built national industries, including textiles, flour, beer, minting, printing and clothing, along a zigzag section of the creek, known as the “18 bays.”
Converting them for modern use has preserved many of these former factory clusters. The popular M50 art hub, which opened in 2000, and the 2-yearold X Tower park are two examples of a modern concept being integrated into a former factory with industrial heritage.
The “blue network” plan focuses on the riverside region along the creek, Taopu River and other waterways running across the district.
Paths will be developed alongside the rivers with improved water quality and renovated water gates. By 2025, Putuo will have 70 waterways and 30 lakes and ponds. The water area of the district will be increased to 2.5 square kilometers from the current 2 square kilometers.
The “green artery” plan will develop 750,000 square meters of new greenery, making the per capita green area stretch 6 square meters in Putuo. The district will improve street greenery quality, build additional parks and greenbelts and improve exiting parks.
Construction has already started on the additional part of the Taopu Central Greenbelt, the largest downtown public greenbelt in Shanghai. It will cover a million square meters upon its completion. A trial operation has seen part of the site opened, covering half of the planned size, featuring a natural landscape and its long industrial heritage.
The design of the green area is inspired by Hyde Park in London and Central Park in New York. The park theme, “Floating Clouds and Water,” incorporates traditional Chinese cultural ideas, such as painting, calligraphy, dance and tai chi.
Standing on top of the greenbelt’s artificial hill, regarded as the second-tallest hill in Shanghai’s western downtown, visitors can see the former site of the city’s once popular “peony ink” factory, a soap factory, a paint plant and the famous White Elephant battery factory.
The city’s earliest rubber plant on Dunhuang Road is to be converted into a visitor center for the site, while a statue of Chairman Mao at the former factory has been preserved.
Visitors can also find some historical sites on or near the greenbelt.
Not far from the initial phase of the project, Hanta Pagoda, originating from the Southern Song Dynasty (1127-1279), has been well-preserved.
Historical texts reveal general Han Shizhong (1090-1151), who devoted his life to fighting invaders, once trained soldiers beside the pagoda.
As a major attraction, a 3D-printed bridge has been put in place over a river in the greenbelt. A giant 3D printer made the 15-meter S-shaped bridge in 35 days.
The “orange circle” plan aims to develop a 15-minute community life circle for each Putuo inhabitant and additional grassroots public service facilities will be built in local neighborhoods.
The district government also plans to improve living conditions in old local communities.
Under the community improvement program, 10 pledges have been released to screen safety risks, repair old houses, renovate apartments without a private kitchen or toilet, demolish illegal structures, build elevators and enhance the property management services.
The “beautiful roads” plan includes burying 248 kilometers of overhead cables underground and improving the image of 225 major roads in Putuo, stretching 226 kilometers.