Ian Abell and Alex Welch, A Grain of Rice, 2015, Bronze
Commemorating its 150th anniversary, HSBC commissioned twin sculptures – one installed in Hong Kong (above) and the other in London.
The humble grain of rice, transformed
in size and materiality, stands with high confidence amid the bank’s legendary
history and the imminent rise of China.
The 10.36 metres
tall installation might represent a trophy of present success, an obelisk of past
glory or a beacon for future. It is found on the southern side of the bank’s
HQ.
The official statement of
collective effort in the past to achieve present success is duly noted. But like potato and other
common staples, exemplified among many languages, the sign of rice also has the
obvious derogatory undertone of peasantry engrained within. The conflicting
identities, wittingly or otherwise, are encrypted in the simply shaped
curvature; and incidentally, a grain is seldom portrayed in isolation.
The dull patina of
bronze on the outside is met with luscious shades of gold inside. Just like the
word – dough in English, “rice” also embodies the notion of money in the
Chinese language.
This solitude reminds one
of the status quo of the bank – a multi-national “orphan” that cannot count
Britain, China or any other countries its sovereign host. Correlate the series
of foul plays the bank was penalized in different countries without the cover
of any government, one might find traces of hint to such thought.
The fugue exposition of signs,
generating recollections of achievements, prophetic statements and perhaps the
self-realization of a limbo existence, are what make this installation laden
with aftertastes.
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