.jpg?w=1)
Lot Essay
"The Chinese traditional way alone would be too conservative, but the Western style alone would be lacking in tradition. But Taichi has an international language which people understand and appreciate".
– Ju Ming
Born in 1938, Taiwanese sculptor Ju Ming attained fame in Taiwan in the 1970s, and in New York City in 1983. Ju Ming was trained as a woodcarver, apprenticed to Lee Chin-chuan as a teenager. He developed his skill and applied it to a range of media. In 1959, he moved back to Tunghsiao and opened his own studio. After winning several awards in the prestigious exhibitions in Taiwan, Ju decided to study under Yu-Yu Yang, who himself had only just returned from a three-year art scholarship in Rome.
In 1976, Ju took up Taichi on Yang's advice to develop physical and mental discipline.He came to understand its essence of strength contained within softness. He combined this spirit with hard sculpting materials to create his renowned Taichi series.
Taichi series is not a mere imitation of certain series of skill and posture in Taichi, it is an exemplification of the artist's thorough comprehension in Chinese boxing, its external form is a reflection of Taichi internal spirit, the rhythm and strength of force is completely embodied in the transition of body language. Taichi series demonstrates Ju's departure from narratives and the figurative to a style of pure spirituality that marks and establishes the maturity of his modern sculptures. This series establishes Ju's importance in Asian art history, and it is also a distinctive milestone in the progression of Asian art, both in its visual language and its transcendental refinement of traditional Eastern culture.
– Ju Ming
Born in 1938, Taiwanese sculptor Ju Ming attained fame in Taiwan in the 1970s, and in New York City in 1983. Ju Ming was trained as a woodcarver, apprenticed to Lee Chin-chuan as a teenager. He developed his skill and applied it to a range of media. In 1959, he moved back to Tunghsiao and opened his own studio. After winning several awards in the prestigious exhibitions in Taiwan, Ju decided to study under Yu-Yu Yang, who himself had only just returned from a three-year art scholarship in Rome.
In 1976, Ju took up Taichi on Yang's advice to develop physical and mental discipline.He came to understand its essence of strength contained within softness. He combined this spirit with hard sculpting materials to create his renowned Taichi series.
Taichi series is not a mere imitation of certain series of skill and posture in Taichi, it is an exemplification of the artist's thorough comprehension in Chinese boxing, its external form is a reflection of Taichi internal spirit, the rhythm and strength of force is completely embodied in the transition of body language. Taichi series demonstrates Ju's departure from narratives and the figurative to a style of pure spirituality that marks and establishes the maturity of his modern sculptures. This series establishes Ju's importance in Asian art history, and it is also a distinctive milestone in the progression of Asian art, both in its visual language and its transcendental refinement of traditional Eastern culture.