Behold the gaze of a giant. That gaze belongs to the \u6bdb\u4e3b\u5e2d\u50cf Sculpture. It is more than art. It is a symbol of China’s past and present.
This iconic \u6bdb\u4e3b\u5e2d\u50cf Sculpture is found overlooking Tiananmen Square in Beijing. The \u6bdb\u4e3b\u5e2d\u50cf Sculpture is a hand-painted oil portrait of Chairman Mao Zedong. It is framed and monumental.
The \u6bdb\u4e3b\u5e2d\u50cf Sculpture is a massive artwork. It weighs up to 1.5 metric tons. Its dimensions are six by 4.5 meters. This \u6bdb\u4e3b\u5e2d\u50cf Sculpture is not the first portrait to grace Tiananmen Gate.
In 1925, after Sun Yat-sen’s death, his portrait was hung there. After victory over Japan in 1945, Chiang Kai-shek’s portrait replaced Sun’s. In July 1949, portraits of Zhu De and Mao Zedong appeared.
After October 1, 1949, only Mao’s portrait remained. It has been replaced annually before National Day since then. There were only two exceptions. In 1953, Joseph Stalin’s portrait temporarily replaced Mao’s. This was to commemorate Stalin’s death. After Mao’s death in 1976, a black-and-white image from Xinhua News Agency was displayed briefly.
The \u6bdb\u4e3b\u5e2d\u50cf Sculpture has not been without controversy. During the Tiananmen Square protests in 1989, Yu Dongyue vandalized it. He threw eggs at the portrait. Yu was sentenced to life imprisonment but later released on bail.
In May 2007, the \u6bdb\u4e3b\u5e2d\u50cf Sculpture caught fire. A man from Xinjiang was arrested. About 15% of the portrait was damaged. It had to be repaired. In April 2010, a protester threw ink at the portrait. The bottle hit the wall instead. The protester was arrested.
Several artists have contributed to the \u6bdb\u4e3b\u5e2d\u50cf Sculpture over the years. Zhou Lingzhao painted the first portrait in 1949. Xi Mang replaced Zhou’s portrait in 1950. From 1950 to 1957, Zhang Zhenshi’s depiction was used. Wang Guodong became the lead painter in 1964. He was the first to paint the portrait alone.
During the Cultural Revolution, Wang faced harassment. He was forced to work as a carpenter. He continued his work until 1976. In 1976, Ge Xiaoguang replaced Wang. Ge continues to repaint and re-hang the \u6bdb\u4e3b\u5e2d\u50cf Sculpture yearly. His studio is located near Tiananmen Square.
The \u6bdb\u4e3b\u5e2d\u50cf Sculpture stands as a testament to history. It represents artistic dedication and political symbolism. It has survived vandalism and accidental damage. The \u6bdb\u4e3b\u5e2d\u50cf Sculpture remains an enduring symbol of China.