Art outside our doors

If you’ve been around the museum this morning, you’ve probably noticed a flurry of activity across the street from us. In celebration of the Shanghai San Francisco Sister City 30th Anniversary Celebration, the  San Francisco Arts Commission is presenting a colossal sculpture by Chinese artist Zhang Huan, titled Three Heads Six Arms (2008).

We blogged about this upcoming addition to the neighborhood some months ago, and are now thrilled to actually see it going up right outside our doors!

The fifteen ton copper sculpture will officially debut next week, but first it needs to be put together. Because of its size, the sculpture was created and shipped in multiple sections, to be assembled on site.

One of six arms pulls up in front of the museum

Each section must be carefully fitted onto the sculpture’s torso. The bright orange interior armature of the statue is clearly visible in these image, but will be hidden once the sculpture is fully put together.

Moving an arm into alignment

The completed sculpture will be dedicated on Wednesday, May 12, 2010 at 10 a.m. That same evening, the San Francisco Arts Commission and the the Asian Art Museum will present a public program featuring Zhang Huan in conversation with museum director Jay Xu.

Three Heads Six Arms (2008) will be on view through 2011.