The Peaceful Elephant I Do Artist Store | AntiStatics Architecture

The I Do artist store in Wuhan, China blends uniquely spatial and sculptural elements to create a highly expressive, embracing and inspiring experience. The feature work of the collaboration between AntiStatics Architecture and renowned artist Yue Min Jun is specifically “the peaceful elephant,” symbolic within Chinese and Asian culture as a representation of “a peaceful world and mature grain in society.” Within the space a smooth and fluid cave-like space is carved out of the interiors wrapping the visitors in a continuously fluid environment and drawing people through the floor plan. The detailing of the displays embedded within the walls and freestanding throughout the space suggest massive geologic formations emerging from the erosive spatial constructs of the interior. As a whole the geometries present a diverse yet synergistic unity of form.

Core Visual: The unity of symbolic elements and cutting-edge fabrication technology           

The massive 9m steel sculpture of the life size elephant features two of Yue Min Jun’s signature figures intimately crouching on each other’s shoulders and rising from the first floor space of the space and emerging on the second floor. Symbolically, the elephant and figures represent the wisdom, strength and unity as a projection of the relationships which emerge from those coming into the store. In execution the sculpture innovates and entirely new methodology for the creation of space and form. Utilizing large scale wax 3d printing and investment casting, the process creates a sparse yet highly structural lattice inspired simultaneously by cellular biology and the atomic structures of the diamond. The unified formation of both symbolical elements and cutting edge fabrication technologies suggests a novel way forward for both architecture and the arts, seeking to unify elements from all fields rather than segregation of procedures and mentalities.

Natural Inspiration: soft fluid layered rock formation and diamond structure

The interior cave space is light and airy with fluid ribbons of robotically milled form work continuously wrapping the space, and further enveloping the visitors within and warm embrace. Reminiscent of the erosion of the earth through natural processed formations are organic in their fluidity and precise in their definition, a gentle reference to the reconstitution of naturally formed elements into precisely manufactured objects. The inverse relationship can be found in the custom designed and fabricated displays and furniture, finding formal inspiration within the geometric formations while using hand crafted processes for their construction.

Thinking about the future: the combination of art, technology and retail

Visitors are drawn to the space through the outstanding elephant formation visible throughout the bustling urban environment of central Wuhan. Upon closer inspection the continuation of the figure in to the interior entices the observer to investigate further the interior environments, where one is removed from the excitation of the streetscape and welcomed into the calming cave. The detail and precision of the unprecedented sculpture pierces through the floor plate with Min Jun’s signature figures expressively emoting exuberant gestures of love and joy enticing one to climb the twisting stair into the most intimate of upper floors. Here one is able to directly address these figures as a moment of reflection and wonder, awe and inspiration for what the future may hold, for themselves and the larger world in an expressive celebration of the most cutting edge of spatial manifestations.

Cross fields and Integration: not just art, architecture and technology

The I Do Wuhan artist’s store design is neither art, architecture nor technology but an elegant synthesis of the most beloved elements of all three, creating a new hybridization of unique and inspiring immersive experiences. The façade, interiors and detailing of the spaces declare themselves to the world as a new potential for how we might come to understand not the segregation of thoughts and ideas, rather how cross-pollinated ideation and multi-disciplinary collaboration between each other can offer a way forward, celebrating our differences and sharing our common goals of love, happiness and inspiration.

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Project Name: “The Peaceful Elephant” I Do Artist Store with Yue Minjun
Design Company: AntiStatics Architecture (Beijing+ New York)
Office Website: www.antistatics.net
Social Media Accounts: @antistatics_architecture
Contact email: [email protected]
Completion Year: 2021
Gross Built Area (m2/ ft2): 250 m2
Project location: Han Street, Wuhan, Hubei China
Program: Retail
Design Principal: Martin Miller, Mo Zheng
Collaborated Artist: Yue Min Jun
Project Architect: Yasser Hafizs
Design Team: Theodorius E. D. Santoso, Christopher Beckett, Annie Liu, Demi Chang, Arthur Yang, Frank Feng
Client: I Do (Hiersun Group)
Photographer: Dachou Wang Photography
Videos (youtube or vimeo links, if any): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g0umbAxMTfk
Video credits: AntiStatics Architecture
Art Installation Fabricator: Hangzhou dikesheng culture and Art Co., Ltd+ Wenzhou zaomeng Technology Co., Ltd
Main Construction: Yueben Shanghai
GRG/GRP supplier: E-grow Shanghai
Concrete Floor: DAGU
316L Stainless Steel: Qingshan