European artist Milan Sipek's creation draws attention to the Shanghai Baolong Plaza shopping mall
The Shanghai Baolong Plaza shopping mall faced a problem of low customer flow due to its lack of an attention-grabbing entrance location. In order to attract more visitors to the mall, the Baolong Group commissioned European artist Milan Sipek to redesign the underground mall. Sipek, who comes from a distinguished European family of crystal designers and has worked in a variety of fields including interior and furniture design, accepted the challenge.
Sipek's solution was to create the "Dragon Pearl," a 13-meter-high stainless steel sculpture supported by three legs and weighing approximately 20 tons. The sphere is a three-dimensional geometric shape, completed by lines, and the interior is empty. It is divided into two parts: a solid structure with a diameter of 7 meters and a height of 6.5 meters, and 16 spheres with a total diameter of 6 meters and a height of 6.5 meters, supported by a thin stainless steel column with a diameter of only 20 centimeters. The exterior of the sculpture is polished to a high gloss, while the interior is blasted to a matte finish and equipped with a special lighting system for added vibrancy at night.
Despite facing challenges such as a narrow space and strict construction period requirements, Sipek and his team were able to complete the "Dragon Pearl" project on schedule.
The sculpture has now become a new landmark of the Shanghai Baolong Plaza shopping mall, attracting the attention of shoppers and media both domestically and abroad. Sipek's strong artistic and design skills are once again demonstrated through the "Dragon Pearl," further enhancing his reputation in the Chinese art and design world.