Bronze sculpture Edition: 4/8

73 × 41 × 35 cm. 28 3/4 × 16 1/8 × 13 3/4 in.

Signed in pinyin, numbered with an artist's seal on the middle of the backside, dated on the bottom of the backside

LITERATURE (different sized editions)
2007, Li Chen : Energy of Emptiness 2007 Solo Exhibition at 52nd International Art Exhibition – La Biennale di Venezia, Asia Art Center, Taipei, p. 205
2008, Li Chen : In Search of Spiritual Space 2008 Solo Exhibition at National Art Museum of China, Asia Art Center, Taipei, p. 183
2009, Li Chen: Soul Guardians – In an Age of Disasters and Calamities, Asia Art Center, Taipei, p. 190
2010, Li Chen: Mind・Body・Spirit, Singapore Art Museum, Singapore, p.86-87, p.184
EXHIBITED (different sized editions)
24 Sep – 9 Dec 2009, Li Chen: Mind・Body・Spirit, Singapore Art Museum, Singapore
13 – 24 May 2015, The 68th Cannes Film Festival, Hotel Majestic Barriere, Cannes

PROVENANCE
Asia Arts Center, Taipei
Acquired directly by present private Asian collector from the above

This work is accompanied by a certification of authenticity issued by Asia Arts Center, Taipei

Walk Alone into the Snowy Fairyland, Gently Sweep the Horsetail Whisk
Li Chen's Spiritual World――Snow Wonderland

"Art is an inner thing, a mental service, a spiritual communication."

――Li Chen

Stepping into artist Li Chen's art world is like entering a "spiritual world". The sculpture figures are placed in the void with a "mind wandering" posture. The unique imbalance ratio subverts the heaviness of ink. The carefree and lightness of freedom points directly to the detachment of spirit.

Since 2001, he has further integrated Zhuangzi's idea of "enjoyment in untroubled ease" into his works and won great popularity among collectors globally with his Spiritual Journey through the Great Ether series. Snow Wonderland, completed in 2007, is an excellent example. The large scale version of the work was placed in the atrium of the Singapore Art Museum during his solo exhibition Spirit, Body, Soul. Later it was also placed in the banquet hall of the famous Hotel Majestic Barriere during the 2015 Cannes Film Festival, which attracted the attention of the performing arts, dance and art circles. Therefore, Li Chen became the first artist to be invited to exhibit in film history, highlighting the unique significance of Snow Wonderland.

No Worry to Dust, into the Clear Land

Snow Wonderland extracts the Eastern Taoist conception, depicting an immortal holding a horsetail whisk and travelling in the snow. He stands on one foot on the top of the snowy mountain, with his facial expression at ease. A horsetail whisk is an object for the Taoists to use during their travel to sweep away worldly troubles. It is also for cleaning the heart in the Buddhist idea of "wipe frequently, do not cause dust". In this work, the immortal, wandering in the void, sweeps away his mundane troubles with a horsetail whisk, reflecting the quiet and carefree of his heart and revealing the empty and clear state of returning to simplicity.

Using Lightness to Control Heaviness, Freely Travel out of the World

Following the idea of "enjoyment in untroubled ease", the work intuitively presents the essence of "travel" through the sculpture form of "carrying bigness with smallness and controlling heaviness with lightness". The protagonist has a chubby body, but he looks as light as a floating cloud, subverting the visual perception of weight. The mountain, snow and people are layered from bottom to top, showing the carefree spirit of the immortal standing on the top of the hill. The snowy mountain peak echoes the illusory and pure temperament, bringing out an ethereal charm in the way of adding silver. The copper lines on the bottom of the mountain contrast with the character's smooth and warm black paint, adding vivid visual perception and reflecting the spiritual emptiness beyond heaven and earth. Snow Wonderland's unique aesthetic and attractive shape tells the openness and ease of the heart. Every viewer can wander in the world this work creates to find their own spiritual paradise.

Price estimate:
HKD: 700,000 - 1,500,000
USD: 89,200 - 191,100

Auction Result:
HKD: --