Ned Kahn

Recently, UAP has created a new art installation for Shanghai Jiading NEXUS, hoping to write the ideal life of the future city for this vibrant new district. Shanghai Jiading New City is one of the new satellite cities surrounding the center of Shanghai. The project presents a core of "vibrancy, low-carbon, and intelligence" through a rich array of scenarios. These independent yet closely interconnected ideal units will function like cells, interconnecting and intertwining to create a vibrant and diverse future urban life. aiming to create an ideal community unit where "buildings are parks and communities are cities."

UAP team started with spatial unity, thematic relevance and artistic functionality, hoping to create a customised artwork that could support the characteristics of the project and coexist harmoniously with the surrounding environment. Spatial unity refers to the fact that the artwork is located at the neighborhood super intersection--Xin Xin street intersection, so it needs to be visually appealing and form a spatial dialogue with the viewers. In terms of thematic relevance and artistic functionality, the concept of the artwork should be combined with the three core concepts of Future City: low carbon, intelligence, and vitality, to create a memorable artwork that carries the spirit and culture of NEXUS and makes people think. Therefore, the UAP team invited international artist Ned Kahn to create the wind-driven artwork Invisible Confluence.

Ned Kahn, an artist with a keen insight into environmental art, did not confine himself to any specific element at the initial stage of project conception. Instead, he delved deeply into exploring abstract images that transcend form and are deeply ingrained in the collective memory of humanity. Just as everyone has a unique interpretation of Hamlet, Ned Kahn captured in his creations the universal aspirations for resilience, purity, and harmonious coexistence. His inspiration stems from an invisible "force," which is an abstract expression of the vitality that silently promotes ecological balance in nature.

In the creative process of Ned Kahn, he transcended the constraints of concreteness, skillfully combining the fluidity of calligraphic art with the rhythms of nature, thereby creating a visual language that is both abstract and deeply meaningful. Each stroke and line in the manuscript is no longer a direct depiction of a specific object, but rather a collection of flowing lines and forms that seem to dance freely in the boundless realm of imagination, telling stories of coexistence, balance, and harmony. Therefore, the artist integrated the strokes of calligraphy into the manuscript, resulting in a work characterized by smooth and elegant lines. The work consists of 12 vertical pillars arranged in a circular formation. The number itself carries profound significance. Twelve is a combination of one and two. In ancient Chinese mathematics, one represents the yang number, governed by the sun and symbolizing independence and individuality; two represents the yin number, governed by the moon and embodying symmetry and balance. The 12 pillars in the work are divided into six pairs, each pair representing the harmonious coexistence of yin and yang.

The artist further embodied this concept of harmony by installing a unique device on top of each pillar, thereby giving the work a sense of life with breath and rhythm. The artwork, titled Invisible Confluence, gently swings with the wind, as if the invisible forces of nature are whispering, narrating the subtle and profound connections between life forms. Stepping into the space formed by these 12 pillars, whether looking up or walking among them, one can feel an enchanting embrace from an invisible force, which is a profound tribute to the beauty of nature, the power of life, and the infinite possibilities of artistic creation.

The UAP team was involved and co-operated with the artist throughout the communication and creation process. When the work entered the production stage, the technical team first turned the 2D artist's manuscript into a 3D printed model to further confirm the details of the work. After confirming that it matches the artist's vision and the owner's requirements, the factory synchronously begins to match the material with the tone of the work, as well as the initial test of the work's blades, after many adjustments, the blades will show the beauty of the shimmering .

The keel of the artwork is made of stainless steel as the main material, which is polished and plasticised and then welded with metal mesh. The blades are made of PC polycarbonate, which is light and tough, ensuring the stability of the artwork and adding a touch of the future to the gallery. The artwork is about 6 metres high and its length reaches 13 to 14 metres, giving visitors a sense of visual impact. For the lighting design, the UAP team has chosen LED lighting with honeycomb grilles. When night falls, the soft light of the honeycomb grille creates a sea of light and shadow. Visitors can feel the warmth of the light from a distance or up close.

As a meeting point between the future and the ancient visual experience, Invisible Confluence demonstrates the flow and fusion of time. They both carry the memory of history and foreshadow the possibilities of the future. This dynamic balance allows visitors to appreciate the artworks while also deeply appreciating the depth and expanse of time. When viewed from a distance, the artwork attracts the viewer's vision with its overall composition, colour and form. Upon closer inspection, the details and textures of the artwork come into sharper focus, allowing the viewer to gain a deeper understanding of the story and symbolism behind the work.

Presented in a cluster, the Invisible Confluence is an iconic piece for the Xin Xin street intersection, creating a strong sense of arrival and visual impact for visitors. When the breeze comes, the artwork seems to be endowed with life, gently swaying with the wind like an invisible calligraphy, signifying the infinite possibilities of Shanghai Jiading Future City. The artwork is a bridge connecting the audience and the creator's emotions. In the Inner Circle, the artwork creates a place of shade, which is not only a physical spatial existence, but more like a meeting point between the spirit and nature. Here, people can feel the unique charm emanating from the artwork, echoing the elements of nature.