White marble sculpture Edition: 4/6

72 × 63 × 32 cm. 28 3/8 x 24 3/4 x 12 5/8 in.

Signed in Chinese and dated on the bottom of backside

LITERATURE
2020, Kun: Tung Lung Hsu, Artist Magazine, Taipei, p.78-79 (different edition)
EXHIBITED
26 Oct – 9 Nov 2019, Kun: Tung Lung Hsu Solo Exhibition, Shanghai Oil Painting Sculpture Institute, Shanghai (different edition)

PROVENANCE
Private Collection, Asia

This work is accompanied by a certificate of authenticity signed by the artist and issued by PATA Gallery, Taipei

Softness as the New Strength

Hsu Tung Lung was born in Taiwan in 1947 and graduated from the Department of Fine Arts at National Taiwan Normal University in 1967. The alabaster sculptures based on his excellent skills are popular among collectors. On one hand, Hsu draws inspiration from classical sculptures; on the other, folk religions also help build up his portfolio, adding a burst of vitality yet with a gentle touch.

In 1983, Hsu hosted his first solo exhibition at Apollo Art Gallery in Taipei. His extraordinary skills and lauded position won him a place in the 1985 Japanese NHK documentary, Touring the National Palace Museum. His works can be found in Taipei Fine Arts Museum, Shanghai Art Museum and Guangdong Museum of Art. Finished in 2018, Star of Wisdom is a representative piece of Hsu that features his effort of leveraging modern styling skills to interpret traditional figures.

Simplicity as the Ultimate Sophistication

Considered as the god of literature, Kui Xing usually appears with brush and sycee in hand and one foot kicking backward with a dou (dipper) on it. The posture resembles the Chinese character Kui in shape. Hsu leaves out the complex details in traditional presentations and only retains the rough outline. The statue has one foot on the ground and the other lifted. He has his arms opened up holding a ritual instrument. The gown, fluttering in the wind, casts a lively touch onto the sculpture while preserving the look of solemnity. Hsu stands detached from the conventional figurative rendering and sides with abstractionists, capturing the core features of Kui Xing and reproducing them in a vivid fashion.

Hsu makes the most of the translucent and hard properties of alabaster, rebranding Kui Xing from a surly-looking figure to a gracious divinity with a blowing robe adding to his ethereality. The sculptor managed to create a harmonious duality of sturdiness and softness, making the hard mineral appear in a visually gentle and airy form. Hsu rises above the superficial image and presents Kui Xing in an abstract yet appealing manner, which shows his insightful understanding of Kui Xing's cultural connotations and constant pursuit of artistic heights.

Price estimate:
HKD: 150,000 – 250,000
USD: 19,400 – 32,300

Auction Result:
HKD: 236,000