Beautify, a statue in a scenic area is accused of having a strange appearance and can't bear to look directly at it! Local response: Limited level of rural artists
Recently, some netizens reported that a statue in a scenic area in Sanmenxia, Henan Province "lacks beauty", and praised the statue as "strange in appearance, with a long waist and short legs, and a disproportionate body proportions that make people unable to look directly at it.".
On September 8th, the relevant departments of the urban-rural integration demonstration zone in Sanmenxia City, where the scenic spot is located, responded to the New Yellow River reporter that the scenic spot was self built by a local village, and the statue was imitated by two local rural artists invited by the village. "The negative speculation and negative online impact caused by the statue are actually due to the limited level of rural artists' skills, and the significant gap between the statue and the original design intention."
The reporter noticed that in a selfie video released by netizens earlier, the netizen called the statue "Peony Fairy" at the scenic spot and said, "This Peony Fairy dare not compliment and does not know what words to use to describe it.". Afterwards, the netizen repeatedly replied to other netizens in the comment section, saying that the statue was "not good-looking" and "not at all coordinated".
In addition, another netizen posted a video comparing the statue with the "Peony Fairy" statue in Luoyang Wangcheng Park, calling the "Peony Fairy" statue in Sanmenxia "too ugly". Many netizens commented after seeing it, believing that the designer of the statue had "aesthetic flaws".
Statue of "Peony Fairy" in Luoyang Wangcheng Park, Image Source: Wangcheng Park Official Website
On September 5th, the reporter learned from a local citizen that the statue is located in Nansong Village, Yangdian Town, the urban-rural integration demonstration zone of Sanmenxia City. "The statue was built in a self built scenic area called 'Peony Garden' in the Southern Song Village, and has been around for a long time. It is said that it was carved by someone from the village. It may be because the sculptor's skills are not good or their aesthetic level is not up to par."
On the front of the statue of "Peony Fairy"
According to the official website of the Sanmenxia Urban Rural Integration Demonstration Zone, on April 12, 2021, the Mudan Garden in Nansong Village, Yangdian Town, Sanmenxia Urban Rural Integration Demonstration Zone was grandly opened. Some members of the Yangdian Town team and the main person in charge of another town attended the opening ceremony. At the opening ceremony, the then Secretary of the Party Committee of Yangdian Town attended and delivered a speech, hoping that Nansong Village would strive to make the Mudan Garden a beautiful business card for rural tourism in the entire town.
In addition, according to the official WeChat official account of Sanmenxia Urban Rural Integration Demonstration Zone, on April 5, 2023, the opening activity of the third Peony Culture Festival was held in Nansong Village, Yangdian Town. Members of the Yangdian Town team and heads of the town office attended the opening ceremony of the park. The Secretary of the Party Committee, Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee, and Mayor of Yangdian Town attended and delivered speeches.
The above article shows that the total investment of the Nan Song Village Peony Garden is about 3 million yuan, covering an area of nearly 50 acres, with more than 10000 peonies planted. After three years of planning and construction, more than 20 amusement facilities have been added, gradually developing into a rural complex project that integrates catering, leisure and entertainment, flower appreciation, and parent-child activities.
In response to the criticism of the statue in the scenic area, on September 8th, the relevant departments of the urban-rural integration demonstration zone in Sanmenxia City, where the statue is located, responded to reporters that it was rumored that the "Peony Fairy Statue" is located in the Peony Amusement Park in Nansong Village, Yangdian Town, Sanmenxia City's urban-rural integration demonstration zone, and was self funded, designed and constructed by the village. In October 2020, in order to develop rural tourism and strengthen the collective economy, Nansong Village held a village meeting and transferred 42.8 acres of land to build a peony amusement park, planting more than 10000 peonies and various types of seedlings. In March 2021, on the recommendation of villagers, Nansong Village invited folk artists Song and Wang to visit and study in Luoyang Wangcheng Park, and took photos of the statue of the "Peony Fairy" in the park. The statue was constructed by Liang, a resident of the Southern Song village, and was imitated by the two folk artists mentioned above. Later, a statue of the "Peony Fairy" in the Southern Song village was built, with a height of 5.8 meters and a cost of over 80000 yuan.
"Since August, the negative speculation and impact caused by the statue have been due to the limited level of rural artists, and the significant gap between the statue and the original design intention. We will take this as a warning, strengthen supervision, and properly handle the relationship between rural economic development and the promotion of traditional culture." Staff members from the relevant departments of the Sanmenxia Urban Rural Integration Demonstration Zone told reporters that the next step will be to renovate and beautify the statue of the "Peony Fairy" in the local area.
