Changchun World Sculpture Park: a legacy for the future

Sculpture Sunbird stands on the Cultural Square in urban Changchun. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

In the summer of 1999, Marianne completed two sculptures, namely Peace and Friendship, in Changchun. "I am very glad that Changchun gave me this opportunity to complete two sculpture works in a summer. This grand event held by Changchun allows me to express my inner feeling for peace and friendship."

In the summer of 2000, she came to Changchun again, and created the famous Changchun Gate of Peace. "One day, I saw people dancing yangko in the park and was inspired to create this work. It is especially made for Changchun, the hometown of yangko dance. It should belong to Changchun. The completion of such a big work makes me know that I can turn my dreams into reality here," Marianne said.

It was in the same year that the construction of Changchun World Sculpture Park was initiated.

Three years later, in September 2003, Marianne came to Changchun for the third time for the opening ceremony of the park and was invited to deliver a speech at the international sculpture conference.

"It is a beautiful dream to build a sculpture park. People need more courage to turn a dream into reality, which has to be completed together by a far-sighted government and urban citizens who expect to leave a legacy to their offspring. In Changchun, this dream has come true. Sculptors come here to donate their works, and as one of them, I feel proud of it," Marianne said passionately at the conference.

Changchun World Sculpture Park adopts both Chinese and foreign gardening skills. It teems with sculptures. The lake surface is the center and takes mountains and waters as its framework, green areas as the background and roads as ties to reach the harmonious unity of the natural environment and cultural landscapes, displaying the significant meaning of the unity of man and the heavens.

"In Changchun, a city in northeastern China, there is the world’s biggest sculpture park. Changchun will be famous in the world for that," Marianne said.

Changchun World Sculpture Park allows the cultures of people from different countries and races, with different beliefs and skin colors who speak different languages to get along harmoniously in this pretty park. It shows the confidence, generousness, broadmindedness and tolerance of the city and its people.

This is a legacy Changchun people leave to their offspring. With the seed of peace and friendship sown here, the sculpture park will blossom and bear fruit worldwide in the future.