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Grieving Mr. Pei

Designed by Mr. Pei, the Suzhou Art Museum opened in 2006, timed to celebrate his 90th birthday. Tapping my shoulder, old Pei would always say: how youthful you are, you walk so fast!

On May 30, 2015, I threw a party for Mr. Pei's 100th birthday at my studio. Chinese people like to celebrate their birthdays early, fearing that Gods might take them away upon discovering their longevity.

Mr. Pei always called me “Guo-Qiang”. That day, he said over and over, “Thank you Guo-Qiang. I will be back.” As he was leaving, he bid farewell to each of my assistants one by one, saying, “Until next time! Until next time!”

As he arrived at the door, my assistants suddenly bellowed out the birthday song once more, this time in Cantonese! Tears came rolling down everyone’s cheeks...

As a few more years came and went. I thought he would keep living in Manhattan, celebrating his birthday every year...

Alas, he ascended to the heavenly realms. It must be more fun there, to design things in the world beyond gravity...

Grieving Mr. Pei,
Guo-Qiang

From May 16, 2019, on journey from New York to Melbourne

Photos by Lydia Ohl and Xiao Yu, courtesy Cai Studio