Sacred Heart Photo: Courtesy of exhibition organizer

Sacred Heart, a sculpture by renowned US artist Jeff Koons, is being exhibited as part of the International Contemporary Art Exhibition at the One Song Center of the Guangzhou One Pengrui, marking the debut of the artist's sculpture in China. 

An important work in Koons' iconic Celebration series, Sacred Heart has been exhibited at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York and the Mori Art Museum in Tokyo. Among the five pieces that make up Sacred Heart, four are in private collections while the one unveiled in Guangzhou is currently the only one remaining for display outdoors.

The US artist is recognized for his work dealing with popular culture and his sculptures depicting everyday objects, including balloon animals produced in stainless steel with mirror-finish surfaces. His works have sold for substantial sums, including at least two record auction prices for a work by a living artist: $58.4 million for Balloon Dog (Orange) in 2013, and $91.1 million for Rabbit in 2019.

The exhibition at the One Song Center features 24 important artists from home and abroad, including Chinese artists Xu Zhen and Lu Pingyuan. 

According to exhibition curator Sun Qidong, through the artistic language of different artists, different works and different forms, the exhibition reflects colorful landscapes and the rhythm of rapid urbanization. The participating artists use unique perspectives and techniques as well as different forms such as paintings and sculptures to demonstrate their observations of the world, perceptions of life, and imagination of the future.

The exhibition is set to run until May 12.