WHY

Name: WHY
Artist: Lai Chi Man

Location: Engineering Building 5
Year: 2005
Dimensions: 
Water Droplet:H600 × φ180 cm

Bench: L400 × W90 × H45 cm

Screen: L400 × W200 × H210 cm
Material: granite, stainless steel
Work Statement: The artwork WHY is comprised of three interrelated installations: The Water Droplet reflects the surroundings with specular material; The Bench provides a rest area with its water-like smooth surface; and the circular arc Screen, which can collect the sounds around. By the simple abstract form, Lai Chi-Man expresses the idealism and phenomena of the human race’s continuous process of collecting, observing, studying, and experimenting to understand the world and improve the living conditions of the whole humanity. Though a static piece, the artist’s ingenuity enables the artwork to interact with the audience, which makes WHY an aesthetic and entertaining work with practical function.