Beat Kriemler

Xinjiang province may mark China's most harsh climate and remote, vast desolate area, yet this land rich in natural resources and beauty is full of witnesses to men's mutli ethnic historical and cultural development in central Asia. At one point in time already a few thousand years ago humans managed to find a way across the Gobi desert, initiating one of the greatest trading and exchange routes of culture, invention and people in history, the silk road. This untamed land, it's authentic freedom seeking people and their honest hospitality left a very big impression on me and I am glad that I went there despite the circumstances and my concerns.

As the capitol of Xingjiang, the city of Urumqui proudly presents the 2.2 million 46 ethnicity habitants and their rich culture and custuoms to the visitor.- especially Tourists. Naturally all arts in Xingjiang are influenced by the diverse folklore, making it perfect to present a fresh, contemporary look at sculpture and content through this year's: 'Harmonious Develoment' international sculpture creation camp I was invited to construct my 400 x 400 x 480cm sculpture "Spatial Intersection".

At the same time, because of the recent outbreaks of violent and deadly riots in Urumunqi the invitation to build public "harmonious" sculptures at this moment, in my opinion became very questionable and I developed an urgent need for re-evaluation and discussion of the role of today's public art. Unfortunately any atempts to seriously adress and exchange thoughts on this issue among coleauges and city officials were muffled dead. My request to weld a dedication on my sculpture to love and unity for the people in Xingjiang province led to a deadlock decline from the organizers. I stand for sculpture that has to be more then just a shaped object that aimes to look nice and at a high value. It always acts also as a messenger- the question remains for what message. Nevertheless, despite officially featuring multi cultural co-existence, ignoring the underlying ethnical problems, they still remain and have been active for probably many centuries. The actions of the authorities to break the riots were firm and effective, yet for China even transparent and carefully thought over. Unfortunately the security net that was spun around the sculpture project by the super nervous organizing comittee became so tight that all participating foreign sculptors were only allowed to cross the street from the hotel to the work site by themselfs- watched by numerous intercom equipped security guards trying to make sure that nobody escapes- which in fact became sort of a past time leasure sport for some sculptors trying to get away with ample time at hand. Every other weekend or so, our hosts would take us on a bus to the country side to ease off our free movement blues. One time we were put on a train for 15 hours crossing the Gobi desert to the nearest email hub in a neighboring province so we could get in touch with our contacts. Xingjiang's state of being reminded me many times of the American Southwest where I have lived and studied art previously. It also makes me think of the Situation the Kosovo Albanian minority found themself under Serbian authority more recently.

The aboriginal Pueblo population along the Rio Grande in New Mexico and Hopi in Arizona encountered similar challenges the Uygur and other minority groups face living day to day together with their Han Chinese brethren, when the Spanish conquistadors established Iberian rule 400 years ago. Even the spicy food and hot dry desert climate show strong parallels between Southwestern USA and Xingjiang. I wonder how much these fators play into Xingjiang state. Overtime the American Indian Pueblos maintained their cultural identity and through educating their youths gained important equal American social rights and even wealth by smartly using their autonomous status and cultural assets. More then once I thought to myself how much a American Indian- Pueblo delegation could help direct and resolve conflict between the ethnic groups in Xingjiang province.

All in all experiences of awe, celebration, hard work and frustration condensed in the resulting sculpture, Spatail Intersection, that was placed last week in Urumqi's citizen's park still unpainted and no proper ground work executed, yet clearly it stands beautyfully as the best sculpture I have been able to build sofar in my career.

Beat Kriemler, August 26 2009