Ru-yi Life

Year 2015
Material Renewed steel Cable
Size H300*W215*D145 (cm)
Weight 3500(kg)
Edition 6
Base H5*W190*D168(cm)

In Chinese culture, “Ru-Yi” is a symbol of auspiciousness and blessing, and often included in greetings and wishes. It is a state of a blessed mind and well-being – the ultimate state of living in the Chinese cultural context. Often depicted as an “S” shaped stick with one or two ends attached to a cloud or mushroom shape, the “Ru-Yi” stick is a well-known object that symbolizes longevity and auspiciousness throughout Chinese art history.

Two achievements of modern sculpture, one is the readymade feature of an industrial product, the other is an emphasis on substance,which is both converged on steel sculpture of Kang. Kang also transforms the industry into civilization by creating steel cable of the elevator as works with living
forms. He translates its moving power of the structure that stretches into the sky into a totem of the origin of life – civilization returns to nature.The shape of this work is also inspired by the shape of traditional Chinese “Ru-Yi” sticks. It indicates that when civilization returns to nature is smooth, people’s state of mind is smooth, harmonious and beautiful.