Bank of Sand, Sand of Bank

Bank of Sand, Sand of Bank
2000/2005


		Image: Huang Yong Ping, Bank of Sand, Sand of Bank

Bank of Sand, Sand of Bank consisted in building a “bank,” measuring 6 meters (19 feet and 8 1/4 inches) long, 4.3 meters (14 feet and 1 1/4 inches) wide, and 3.5 (11 feet and 5 3/4 inches) meters high, out of sand in the main hall of the entrance lobby of the museum. The model for this bank was the former British HSBC (Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation) building, constructed in 1923. This “bank of sand” was composed of four wooden molds, reinforced and fixed together with long screws. Then dry sand mixed with a small quantity of cement was poured into the molds. After that, water was sprayed on it, and it was pressed down with a wooden post to make it compact and solid. After this dried, the “bank of sand” would maintain its basic appearance, which, however, was only temporary and extremely vulnerable, and could crumble at any time. —HYP