Pan Shiyi Bao Pao: Non-Architecture Interview

Author: Pan Shiyi, Bao Pao, Wang Baoju
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2007-01-01
Features: Pan Shiyi's story is more like a media legend, a legend about entertainment, shows, and socializing. Many modern artists are regular guests at his gatherings. Although some may recall that it wasn’t Pan Shiyi who paid the bill at a certain party, they generally acknowledge his contributions to contemporary art. As a result, people’s interest in Pan Shiyi extends beyond his wealth—it also lies in his being the second-largest taxpayer, in how a purebred "local" married a Westernized wife, and in his richness—his cultural richness, his human richness.
Bao Pao was born in Changchun, Jilin Province in 1940. He graduated from the Sculpture Department of the Central Academy of Fine Arts in 1967. In 1980, he participated in the "Stars Art Exhibition." In 1985, he founded the Quyang Environmental Art School. In 1996, he organized the establishment of the Beijing Huairou Forest and Mountain Sculpture Park. Because he dislikes working in one fixed place and prefers to change frequently, he is nicknamed "The Wanderer." Regarding a series of social phenomena related to architecture, his views can be briefly summarized as follows: the rise of artificial landscapes is for market dominance; the short-lived "miracle amusement palaces" are for quick profits; a new statue movement in the history of Chinese religion is for tourism; the European and classical complexes of residential developers are the reason for the failure of urban landmarks—sculptures; the nationwide popularity of urban squares has issues; and the development of public environmental art lags behind economic growth.