Bernar Venet’s donates monumental 'Convergence' sculpture in Beijing

Bernar Venet has donated his monumental sculpture Convergence: 52.5° Arc x 14 to China, marking a celebration of cultural friendship between the two nations. A ceremony was held on the 3rd of December in Beijing, attended by visiting French Culture Minister Rachida Dati.

The work, which was installed in Beijing, echoes Venet’s 2024 Paris installation Convergence: 54.5° Arc x 14 created for the Paris Olympic Games, crafted from Corten steel and reaching 18 meters in height. The sculpture’s overlapping arcs represent a meeting point between cultures, speaking to the ongoing exchange between East and West and the potential for collaboration. The donation coincided with French President Emmanuel Macron’s state visit to Beijing, underscoring the broader diplomatic and cultural ties between China and France.

Venet has previously exhibited across Chinese cities, including Beijing, Guangzhou, Hong Kong, and Shanghai, experiences he described as ‘extraordinary moments of intellectual exchange.’ Reflecting on 52.5° Arc x 14, Venet states, ‘I created it for the 60th anniversary of the friendship between China and France in 2024. Now Beijing is the best place for it to stay as a witness of our cultural bond.’