Pictured: Artist Zheng Lu with public art consultant Chris Clifford at the site of 'Sail'.

Born in 1978 in Inner Mongolia, Mr Lu studied at Beijing’s prestigious Central Academy of Fine Arts from 2004 to 2007. While still at school, he won the LVMH prize, which offered a three-month scholarship to the École nationale supérieure des Beaux-Arts in Paris.

Acclaimed for his sculptures and installations, Mr Lu’s work has been displayed in galleries across the world.

The artist is especially known for work which captures nature in motion, often the flow of water or the movement of droplets of liquid.

Pictured: 'Sail' represents the movement of a sail in the wind.

Digital art platform Colossal described some of his previous sculptures in the following way: "Challenging our expectations and understanding of physics, smooth, chrome-like surfaces reflect the surroundings and change in the light as the viewer moves around them, further adding to the perception that the sculpture itself is in motion."

The Jersey commission – which followed a procurement process considering the work of more than 20 international artists – involved constructing a piece capable of withstanding the special conditions on the St Helier Waterfront, where the climatic conditions, especially the strength of the wind, made it important that the work could combine its necessary structural strength with a deceptive sense of lightness.

Pictured: The sculpture was installed in the Horizon apartment development last week.

While installing Sail, Mr Lu was asked by a passerby what the work represented. Limited by his command of English – in interview he takes advantage of an interpreter – he replied simply: "The wind". 

He explained that he was encouraged by the passerby's reaction.

‘'Yes,' she said. 'That is truly the wind.' But everyone can explain the meaning for themselves," Mr Lu added with a smile.