DINA MERHAV
SCULPTRESS


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Chinese Experiences number 15
Minqin International Desert Sculpture Symposium 2019

I received an e-mail from Gracely Lu Yan asking me to immediately send some proposal for the Desert Symposium since the final judgment was to take place within only 6 hours.  I did and ironically, had forgotten about it.
After several weeks an announcement on Facebook read, "Congratulations Dina."  I suddenly realized that I was accepted to the International Desert Sculpture Symposium.    From the 2500 proposals they received, they accepted only 45 sculptors - 40 men and 5 women.
It was not an easy decision for me to travel all the way to North China.  Thanks to Gracely’ s incredible job of convincing me to come, I was able to enjoy a fantastic, exciting and enriching experience.
Of course, the most dramatic moment was the sight of my sculpture, "Walking" 2019, painted iron, 720 cm. H. rising
from the sand - 4 red figures that I had initially designed as a small cardboard model had now become a powerful presence.
The message is "walking" towards a better world, a world filled with love rather than aggression.

Dina Merhav
Dina Merhav
Dina Merhav
Dina Merhav
Dina MerhavDina Merhav

As always in China, the opening ceremony was a fascinating "happening."  Forty thousand people were roaming around the grounds, after the speeches, running from one sculpture to the next, taking photos with big smiles on their faces.  It was remarkable to see how the Chinese people are so interested in culture and especially in sculpture - a phenomenon that was apparent also in the next day when, despite of some very strong desert winds, many people were visiting the sculpture park and taking photos.

Dina Merhav
Dina Merhav

I was asked to give a short speech about the influence of outdoor sculpture on the surroundings.  I spoke about my experience of building several sculpture parks, for instance in industry and how it improved the worker's attitude and efficiency.  Another example was the sculpture park I created in memory of my family, the Gross family, that has become a major tourist attraction in my birth-town Vinkovci in Croatia.
Exchanging ideas and information with sculptors from all over the world is always an enriching and fascinating experience. 


Dina MerhavDina MerhavDina MerhavDina MerhavDina MerhavDina MerhavDina Merhav
Dina MerhavDina MerhavDina Merhav
Dina Merhav
Dina MerhavDina MerhavDina MerhavDina MerhavDina MerhavDina Merhav ..............................................................................................................................................................Dina with Gracely Lu Yan

Dina Merhav
Dina Merhav

 

Thank you, all my dear friends. 

Many thanks especially to the unique Gracely for her brilliant organization abilities and the care she gave to all of us.

Dina Merhav, Summer 2019

 

Video (3 min) about the creation, building, installing
of sculptures in Minqin Desert Sculpture Park 2019

Video by Minqin Desert Sculpture International Symposium Organization Committee

 

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