Ecuador Pavilion

117.4 X 118.2 cm     mm/c     2010/10/24

At the entrance to the Middle and South America Joint Compound is the Ecuador Pavilion, with its architecture inspired by the Chinese traditional concept of “Round Heaven and Square Earth.” Sections of World Center, The Islands, The Coast, The Amazon, and The Andes highlight the geographical features of Ecuador and its unique charm of cultural diversity. 360 degree-circular-screen movies introduce the physical and cultural aspects of the country. Ecuador had been the home base of the great Inca Empire, yet was ruled by Spain since the 16th Century and then became independent in 1830.

In this artwork, Dr. Chen selected the most famous La Compania Catholic Church in the old city of Quito (Ecuador’s capital) as the main composition, and employed thick lines and color-blocks to illustrate the outline of the church and its wall. Some traditional Incan arts and crafts are depicted upon the front center of the church and beneath it. On the upper right hand corner we find the silhouette of a national hero, and on the upper left hand corner we see an artistic suggestion of colonization in Ecuador.