Zhanjun Shen · CLIENT: Junse (Shanghai) Culture and Art Development Co., Ltd
Bow and Arrow is an art installation that reinterprets the traditional bow and arrow in a modern manner. The bow integrates the form of the human spine, a shape chosen to suggest both the strength and the fragility of life. The arrowheads are replaceable and are carved to resemble the Four Heavenly Kings of Eastern Buddhism. High quality metal and stainless steel are cut, polished and carved to form the parts. The installation measures 1900 by 300 by 1900 millimetres. Themes of war and peace, and of life and spirit, are conveyed through the combined forms.
Press Kit
- Unique Properties
- Bow and Arrow with a distinctive appearance subverts traditional bow and arrow design, and interprets Eastern culture in a modern manner. It ingeniously integrates the spine element into traditional bow design, and incorporates replaceable arrowheads that shape like Four Heavenly Kings in Eastern Buddhism, conveying profound themes of war and peace as well as life and spirit.
- Dimensions & Packaging
- product dimensions, 1900 mm x 300 mm x 1900 mm
- Tags
- bow and arrow, spine element integrated into traditional bow design, replaceable arrowheads, Eastern Buddhism, life and peace
- Production Technology
- High quality metal is used as the main material.
The meticulously crafted metal parts are robust and elegant.
Premium stainless steel is carefully cut and polished for a smooth, delicate texture.
The arrowheads adopt the fine carving process to create complex shapes like Four Heavenly Kings, highlighting superb craftsmanship and demonstrating obsessive attention to detail. - Design Challenge
- The challenge was integrating the spine element into a bow and arrow. The designer has optimized the structure and shape of the bow and arrow through repeated tests and modifications to ensure practicality and showcase the beautiful curve of the spine. In terms of arrowheads, the advanced carving process and the premium material lead to exquisite shapes and good durability, while the scientifically designed connection structure and fixing mechanism are used for stability and ease of use.
- Project Duration
- This product started in January, 2022, and was launched in June, 2023.
- Operation Flow
- This work boasts high flexibility and interactivity. Users can easily change replaceable arrowheads according to their preferences or actual scenes. Such a modular design not only makes the work more practical and interesting, but also enables users to more deeply understand the ideas and spirits of the work during interactions.
- Research
- This work successfully marries traditional bows and arrows with modern design to create a brand new artistic form. It incorporates elements derived from Eastern Buddhism, and replaceable arrowheads, to further enrich its cultural connotations and spiritual values. Additionally, its profound themes of war and peace as well as life and spirit also trigger deep thinking on the common destiny and bright future of mankind.
- Inspiration
- The work is inspired by understanding of Eastern culture and reflection on the topic of war and peace. The spine, as an important supporting structure of the human body, represents tenacity and frailty of life, while the bow and arrow is a symbol of ancient war to suggest cruelty of war and preciousness of peace. The two combined express respect for dignity of life and deep desire for peace. The elements derived from eastern Buddhism embody religious and spiritual meanings.
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