Something to stop you in your tracks.

“Stop, Listen, Look” is a 7 meter tall participatory artwork that channels the spirit of the city of Chengdu. With music, color, and motion tied to local rhythms, it offers an interactive experience across generations. The artwork is constantly in motion, boasting both motorized and wind-powered elements, creating a sense of energy that mirrors the busy streets below IFS Chengdu’s expansive rooftop. Its horn-like forms transmit sound and invite light and shadow to follow the pace and movement of the viewer. With two seesaws and an interactive sound modulation system, the piece is playful, but is only completed once people engage with it. IFS Chengdu, a top luxury shopping destination in China, can see up to 110,000 visitors a day.
          Inspired by Chengdu's delicate balance between modernity and traditionalism, Wade and Leta drew from Chengdu’s culture and symbolism—especially the circle, found everywhere from the Golden Sun Bird to Anshun Bridge to the city’s circular layout with IFS being in the center of the city. The circular motifs contrast with the geometric, contemporary shapes to create a visual juxtaposition that symbolizes the continuity and fusion of ancient and modern life.
          This piece marks many firsts for Wade and Leta: their first large-scale outdoor artwork in China (ranging over 7m in height), and their first sound collaboration with renowned music producer Eric Lau, who created an evolving soundtrack based on the city’s energy based on tones taken directly from every day life within Chengdu. The site also featured a beautiful sound installation by local artist Huang Jin, with 8 tones of Chengdu woven throughout the experience. Visitors of the site are encouraged to manipulate the auditory ambiance with a MIDI controller embedded into the structure. 
          The work creates a space where history and contemporary life converge—where movement becomes a language of reflection. Shapes shift and spin, echoing the rhythm of Chengdu itself—its rich past swirling into its vibrant present. In this motion, viewers are invited to pause, contemplate, and discover their own connections to the city, the cosmos, and one another.

Client: IFS Chengdu
Location: Chengdu, China
Year: 2025
Curator: UCCA Lab
Materials: Powder coated steel 
Fabrication: Makernet
Sound Production: Eric Lau
Sound Production: Huang Jin
Aerial Video Footage: 艺术 LOOK