Li Zijian Art Museum in Changsha, China

We participants of the Changsha International Sculpture Art Festival 2014 were invited to see the location building site of the new Li Zijian Art Museum being built in Yanghu Wetland Park, Changsha, China.

Li Jijian is one of China’s most successful and prominent painters, and he was present to introduce the plans to us. The museum, rendering pictured here, will be complete in 2017 and will feature local and foreign art exhibitions. It is wonderful to see a philanthropist such as Mr. Li giving back to his community in such a manner. The architectural design is beautiful and it will be interesting to see the interior exhibition spaces when complete.

After the viewing, Mr. and Mrs. Li invited us onto their yacht for a river cruise and then a dinner party at their home’s rooftop garden overlooking Changsha. A consummate host, Mr. Li was energetic, friendly and extremely happy to have a houseful of international sculptors. The principle Festival organizer, Lei Yixin and Li Zijian went to art school together and have remained lifelong friends.

It was an afternoon and evening I will always remember and be very grateful to have experienced.