One Man, nine animals
One Man, nine animals is a large-scale sculpture by artist Huang Yong Ping made from aluminium and wood, displayed in the park beside Caen Castle. It consists of twelve wooden poles of varying heights arranged in a circle around a cart topped with a small bronze figure, with the poles decorated with different animal sculptures.
The sculpture was created in 1999 by Huang Yong Ping originally for the Venice Biennale, where it represented France, and later adapted to fit the park beside Caen Castle. The artist had been living in France since 1989 and chose animals from an ancient Chinese compass and travel guide to represent human struggles.
The sculpture bridges Chinese mythology with European artistic context by depicting creatures from an ancient Chinese travel guide. It invites visitors to reflect on universal human experiences like journeys, challenges, and hope that span across all cultures.
The sculpture is located outdoors in the castle park and is therefore accessible year-round regardless of weather conditions. Visitors can walk freely around the artwork and view the different animal figures from various angles.
The artwork draws from a Chinese compass dating to the third century before common era and depicts creatures with unusual features, such as multiple heads or odd body parts. These hybrid forms tell stories of human trials and internal struggles that visitors often overlook when viewing the piece.
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