Piazza della Santissima Annunziata
Liu Ruowang
Born in 1977 in the mountain area of Jiaxian County of Yulin District in the northern part of Shaanxi Province. After completing his program study in CAFA (China Central Academy of Fine Arts) in 2005, Liu Ruowang received recognition from many institutions and his works were then represented in private, public, and corporate collections around the world. His works – sculptures and paintings – are deeply rooted in Chinese cultural and historical context (eg. Wolves Coming!, The East is Red, People series, Heaven’s Soldier, Lofty Mountains and Flowing Water, Original Sin, Dodo). In 2011 and 2012, Liu’s works were shown in the National Museum of China, China National Art Museum, and other museums throughout China. In 2013 his works were exhibited at the South Korean Parliament. In 2015 Wolves Coming!, originally shown in Beijing’s 798 Art District, was exposed in Italy at the University of Turin and at the 2015 Venice Biennale. In 2016 Liu Ruowang was chosen as Theme Artist at NordArt 2016 where he was also awarded the Highest Popularity Award. In 2018 he won the Canova Prize – Contemporary Excellence Award in New York, while in 2019 was awarded the Napoli Medal of Honor by the Mayor of Naples.
Wolves Coming!
Curated by Matteo Lorenzelli, sponsored by Italian Ministry of Cultural Heritage and Activities, Uffizi Galleries, and Florence’s Municipality.
A sculpture installation consisting of 110 wolves cast in weathering steel which face two emblematic buildings of the Renaissance: Palazzo Pitti and the Spedale degli Innocenti. The work series intends to demonstrate the conflicted yet united relationship between man and animals, man and nature, and man and society.
An allegory of nature’s response to man’s ravages and predatory behavior towards the environment; at the same time, the wolves also represent a reflection on the values of civilization, on the great uncertainty in which we live today and on the real risks of an irreversible annihilation of the current world.
Lupi in arrivo represents a real criticism of a world devoted to self-destruction. Liu Ruowang’s wolves are basically a desperate call for environmental protection of the whole planet.
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Lupi in arrivo has provided amazing experiences to dozens of metropolis globally among which: Queenstown (New Zealand), Petersdorf (Germany), Quimper (France), Copenhagen (Denmark), and in Italy Venice, Turin, Cervinara, Naples, and now Florence.
“With the presence of Liu Ruowang’s wolves in our squares we will have many months to think about how to contribute to respecting the natural balance of our planet”
– Eike Schmidt, Director of Uffizi Galleries
“Let art sets this ancient city to sail again”
– Dario Nardella, Florence City Mayor
“Nothing better than art can allow us a profound reflection on the missing relationship between man and nature”
– Tommaso Sacchi, Councilor for Culture of the Municipality of Florence
Artwork partners
Installation
