Artworks created by one of China's most celebrated contemporary artists, Yuan Xikun, were showcased in Paris during the recent Summer Games, which ended Sunday. Among the pieces exhibited was a sculpture of Pierre de Coubertin, the visionary founder of the modern Olympics.

Jacques de Navacelle de Coubertin and Chinese artist Yuan Xikun pose with Yuan's Pierre de Coubertin sculpture at The China House at the Hotel Salomon de Rothschild in Paris, France, July 25, 2024. [Photo provided to China.org.cn]

Beside Yuan's sculpture of Pierre de Coubertin, other artworks that were on display at The China House at the Hotel Salomon de Rothschild included ink-and-wash portraits as well as sculptures of former International Olympic Committee (IOC) Presidents Juan Antonio Samaranch and Jacques Rogge, and current IOC President Thomas Bach.

The artist told China.org.cn on Aug. 12 in Beijing that the Pierre de Coubertin sculpture will be collected and relocated to the former residence of Coubertin for a future exhibition.

"Sculpture does not need translation; you can just understand it when you see it," Yuan said when discussing the sculpture of Pierre de Coubertin. "It stands there not only to inspire the spirit of sports but also serves as an important bond in the friendship between China and France."

This year marks the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and France, and is also the first time that the Olympic Games have been hosted in Paris again after a century. These circumstances prompted Yuan to recreate this medium-sized sculpture for display.

(From left to right) Zhou Jinqiang, deputy director of China's State General Administration of Sport and deputy head of the Chinese delegation of sport at the Paris Olympics; Yu Zaiqing, vice president of the Chinese Olympic Committee and an International Olympic Committee (IOC) member; IOC President Thomas Bach; and China's speed skating champion Zhang Hong unveil and pose with Yuan Xikun's Pierre de Coubertin sculpture at The China House at the Hotel Salomon de Rothschild in Paris, France, on July 25, 2024. [Photo provided to China.org.cn]

Jacques de Navacelle de Coubertin, a descendant of the modern Olympic Games founder, visited The China House to meet Yuan Xikun on July 25. Yuan then visited Coubertin's former residence upon Jacques' invitation on July 27 to thoroughly explore the venue and decide where the sculpture will be placed on display for future exhibition.

"I admire sports, and I especially admire the volunteer spirit and perseverance of Pierre de Coubertin. His efforts to revive and support the Olympic Movement have deeply touched me," Yuan Xikun said.

This project to create a sculpture of the modern Olympics founder was initiated around 2006. At the invitation of former IOC President Samaranch, Yuan created the sculpture of Pierre de Coubertin, starting with prototypes. During the 2008 Beijing Olympics, a two-meter-tall version of the bronze sculpture was collected by the Olympic Museum in Lausanne, Switzerland.

Jacques de Navacelle de Coubertin and Chinese artist Yuan Xikun communicate during Yuan's visit to the former residence of Pierre de Coubertin in Paris, France, July 27, 2024. [Photo provided to China.org.cn]

"At the very beginning, I saw plenty of photos of Pierre de Coubertin and integrated them in my mind for inspiration; that's how the idea for the sculpture came about, including his sitting pose and the chair," Yuan recalled. The contemporary artist also added Eastern aesthetics during the creative process. 

Aside from viewing photos of the Parisian visionary, Yuan also studied Pierre de Coubertin's philosophy toward sports and found that the Western and Eastern Olympic pursuits in sports and spirit very much resonate with each other. "For example, his idea that participation is more important than winning closely matches China's 'friendship first, competition second' slogan," Yuan pointed out.

Born in Yunnan Province in 1944, Yuan Xikun, son of the renowned painter Yuan Xiaocen, has been active in China's art community for decades, starting his career early on in his father's studio. Alongside his artistic endeavors, Yuan also serves as a cultural ambassador, having created hundreds of portraits of international figures using both ink-and-wash painting technics and bronze. In 1995, Yuan founded the notable Beijing Jintai Art Museum. 

IOC President Thomas Bach presents the International Olympic Committee President's Trophy to Chinese artist Yuan Xikun for his artistic contributions to the Olympic Movement during his visit to Beijing in May 2023. Yuan mentioned that Bach shared with him that the Pierre de Coubertin sculpture has become a popular photo spot at the IOC headquarters in Lausanne, Switzerland. [Photo provided to China.org.cn]

Yuan mentioned to China.org.cn that he has had a long relationship with the Olympics since China first bid to host the Games in 1993, and has been creating Olympic-related pieces as well as participating in Olympic cultural activities over the years. 

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