free workshops to celebrate the unveiling of The Lion

Chinatown Arts Space will run a series of free workshops to celebrate the unveiling of The Lion. Ten public art sculpture workshops will take place in various locations across Westminster for families, the elderly, youth groups and a special Masterclass for artists. The workshops will take place from February to April 2009 and will be led by East Asian artists Hsiao-Chi Tsai (Taiwan), Kimiya Yoshikawa (Japan) and Asaki Kan (Japan). To register, please email info@chinatownartsspace.com. Workshop dates, venues and groups are listed below.

22 Feb 2pm-3:30pm Families: Charing Cross Library
1 March 2pm-3:30pm Families: Charing Cross Library
18 March 2pm-3:30pm Elderly: Chinese Community Centre
22 March 2pm-3:30pm Youth: Charing Cross Library
28 March 2pm-3:30pm Artists’ Masterclass: Charing Cross Library
1 April 2pm-3:30pm Elderly: Chinese Community Centre
5 April 2pm-3:30pm Families: Charing Cross Library
8 April 2pm-3:30pm Youth: Chinese Community Centre
9 April 2pm-3:30pm Elderly: Chinese National Healthy Living Centre
12 April 2pm-3:30pm Youth: Chinese Community Centre

Chinatown Arts Space and Shaftesbury PLC are delighted to announce Hsiao-Chi Tsai from Taiwan and Kimiya Yoshikawa from Japan as the winners of the £20,000 Wardour Street Sculpture commission with their collaborative proposal The Lion. Selected from global entries this exciting new commission encapsulates the vibrancy and diversity of Chinatown and its community.

The Lion is a striking contemporary interpretation of a traditional Chinese symbol of greeting and guardianship made of jesmonite, brightly coloured Perspex and treated steel, the colour and pattern of The Lion are used to represent the diversity of East Asians living and working in the UK. The sculpture will be approximately three metres in height and will be installed permanently on the corner of Wardour Street and Shaftesbury Avenue at the unveiling on 8th April 2009.

This is the second public art commission of the Five Circles arts festival organised by Chinatown Arts Space which is a series of groundbreaking events including: rap music, film, contemporary dance, visual public arts and education.

The judges were David Tse Ka-shing, Creative Director, CAS, Glynn Williams, Professor of Sculpture, Royal College of Art and Tom Welton, Director, Shaftesbury PLC. David Tse Ka-shing commented: This is a vibrant, playful, modern interpretation of a traditional Chinese temple lion using colourful perspex material, and will be a striking addition to Chinatown's increasing public artwork. The sculpture marks one entrance into Chinatown and will be in situ for 10 years, a welcome cultural icon in the West End amidst the busy landscape of advertising jostling for people's attention.