Local artist Sujin Bec will unveil a newly commissioned sculpture titled “Syntax of Steel” at 3 p.m. Friday in the courtyard of the Engineering Building at the University of Guam.
The sculpture, which stands just over eight feet tall, six feet wide and one foot deep, is shaped in the form of a latte stone and reimagined as a gateway into the future of engineering. Its silhouette draws from the ancient CHamoru architectural form, a cultural symbol rooted in Guam’s identity.
According to a press release, traditional references are interwoven across the surface with contemporary structural joints, reflecting continuity between heritage and innovation. The work blends ancestral symbolism with modern engineering elements, honoring the past while looking ahead.
The latte stone has long served as a cultural emblem of the university. Installed in the Engineering Building courtyard, the sculpture is dedicated to engineering students, past and future. It is designed for students to pass through it, symbolizing a journey from foundation to possibility and from study to shaping the world ahead.
“The act of walking through the form becomes a quiet rite of passage,” the release states, describing the piece as both a physical structure and an aspiration for students to design and build the future with knowledge gained through the university’s engineering program.
Bec expressed gratitude ahead of the unveiling.
“Glory be to the Lord, that you made things possible and giving me inspirations and talent to show the world who you are!” she stated.
