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On September 26th, the opening day of 2011 Beijing Design Week and the First Beijing International Design Triennial, Manuscript, a major art installation will be exhibited at the China Millennium Monument. This 20m long, 8m wide and 6.7m tall installation weighs about 50tons, and will be on display until October 4th, the last day of Golden Week.

Guest City, Gift from London

Entitled Manuscript, the public art installation from London has been designed by leading UK designer Paul Cocksedge, and manufactured under the supervision of designers from both China and UK.

Guest City is one of the six sectors of 2011 Beijing Design Week. The program invites a world renowned design-centred city as the Guest City, so as to present and promote the London’s design style, concepts and works through three core events: design exhibitions, ideas sharing and engaging activities. Manuscript is the main highlight of the program.

Beijing Design Week is the first to start a Guest City program, which is going to be a major feature of the whole event.

A Cross-space, Intercultural and Multi-disciplinary System

Manuscript is a complex of connected massive steel sheets. Each painted with graceful red paint, and rolled in the shape of flying pages, the sheets are inscribed with poems carefully curated from Chinese and English sources. Paul Cocksedge said:”I am very honoured to have been able to contribute with this work to celebrate a wonderful manuscript paper, the foundation of global literature and communication. The installation follows Paul Cocksedge Studio’s ongoing interest in this inspirational material, and his investigations into its morphological potential.” He added, “The structure speaks of so many different aspects of Chinese and British history and culture poetry and writing, the power and beauty of nature, and of course, man-made engineering and design.”

The structure has an impressive scale, while maintaining a vigorous flow, in accordance with the open view at the China Millenium Monument. Passers-by can sit and rest on the curved sheets and absorb the poetry in one of the world’s most impressive public space. “Manuscript” is about the exchange of words, poetry and knowledge between the east and west.

“Manuscript” is expected to become a new icon in cultural communication between China and UK, and to create sparks while combining Chinese and English classic literature with contemporary installation designs.

Paul Cocksedge Leading Designer in UK Design Community

Paul Cocksedge studied for his MA in Product Design at the Royal College of Art, under Ron Arad. Cocksedge exhibits and lectures around the world, and has successfully established himself as one of Britain’s leading young designers. He started Paul Cocksedge Studio in London with partner Joana Pinho. The studio explores the limits of technology to create unique design experiences that engage the viewer in magical and surprising ways.