Magical Gusu — Public Art at Suzhou Yanlord Cangjie
10th Jul 2023
Magical Gusu brings Jacky Tsai’s floral imagery into the historic architecture of Suzhou Yanlord Cangjie. Inspired by Suzhou’s gardens, the work combines flowers, plants, koi fish and birds across the Sanjian Wall and Watchtower.
Rather than treating the architecture as a neutral backdrop, Tsai works with its walls, corners and curved surfaces. Garden motifs unfold at the scale of the street, connecting his contemporary visual language with the city’s architectural and decorative traditions.
Realised with UAP in 2023, Magical Gusu forms part of the public art strategy for Suzhou Yanlord Cangjie. UAP’s Shanghai team developed the curatorial vision Seeking Treasures, Encountering Oneself, and UAP supported the work’s design development, fabrication and installation.
When visitors come to Yanlord Cangjie, I hope they will enjoy my art and experience the captivating fusion of Chinese and Western artistic influences.
Magical Gusu at night — Suzhou Yanlord Cangjie.
At night, the illuminated tower and patterned walls give the work a different presence within the everyday movement of the street.