NUSANTARA.COM: Singapore Public Art

Qin Shu Bao, Aw Pottery, 1975 ceramic commission: Hilton Hotel location: Orchard Rd, in front of the Hilton Hotel « go previous go to next » go back to list

An interesting road not taken in Singapore public art. This work was fashioned by the owners of the famous Aw Pottery in Ayer Hitam, Malaysia, and it displays considerable liveliness, a quality that almost outweighs its clumsiness. The work, and its necessary companion ("on the other end"), have also weathered their quarter-century here very well, in front of the first major hotel built on Orchard Road. I wonder why more works were not commissioned from the Aw brothers? One popular guidebook says of them that they are here to frighten those who would otherswise not declare their minibar consumption. The makers are credited with a little tag affixed to the back of the figures that says " Made by the Aw Pottery, tel 235-6546"

text of the label affixed to the work:

Qin Shu Bao together with Wei Chi Jing De (statue on the other end) where generals during the Tang Dynasty in 618 AD. Possessed with special powers, they were called upon to project the Emperor Tang Tai Zong, from the Dragon King who swore vengeance on the Emperor during a conflict. In popular Chinese belief, Qin Shu Bao and Wei Ching Jing De are regarded as guardians of doorways. These statues were built in 1975 and weigh 3 tons each. Please Do Not Touch [repeated in Chinese]

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