Bronze Sculpture

59 × 108 × 57 cm. 23 1/4 x 42 1/2 x 22 1/2 in.

Signed in Chinese, numbered and dated on the bottom of the backside
Edition: 2/10

PROVENANCE
Caves Art Center, Taipei
Private Collection, Asia

This work is accompanied by a certification of authenticity issued by Taipei Caves Art Center with signature from the artist

The Origin and Essence of Ju Ming’s Taichi Series
Achieving a Dynamic Balance with Single Whip
“The cuts that Ju Ming makes on his work leave no room for the polished form or structure, but in his delicate and meticulous rendering, each stroke is incomparably precious, giving rise to a three-dimensional vitality.”
— Heartfelt praise from Yoyo Yang, art teacher and life mentor of Ju Ming
Ju Ming was born in Taiwan’s Miaoli County. As an adult, he studied sculpting at the Grand Matsu Temple and engaged in traditional wood carving for many years. In the 1970s, he became a student of Yoyo Yang and, in the process, learned about modern art and further honed his skills. Later, in order to get in better physical shape, Ju Ming studied the Chinese martial art of taichi and integrated his understanding of it into his creations. Dramatic changes were then made in the way Ju made his works, from carving statues of ancestral deities to sculptures portraying taichi postures, the former being more concrete than the spiritually-centered latter. This was clearly a period of marked qualitative improvement in the man’s philosophy.
In 1978, the Tokyo Central Art Museum exhibited Ju Ming’s works, marking the debut of Taichi on the international stage, something that attracted a great deal of attention. One of the works exhibited was Single Whip, which was acquired by the Hakone Open-Air Museum in Hakone, Japan. Since the late 1970s, Ju Ming created several bronze Single Whip sculptures that were displayed as public art at many venues, including Hong Kong’s Exchange Square (completed in 1986 with a height of 267 centimeters), Citygarden in St. Louis, Missouri (completed in 1998 with a height of 214 centimeters), Victoria Square in Montreal (completed in 1985 with a height of 210 centimeters), and others. This makes it no wonder that this Single Whip is the most popular and sought-after work in the entire series.
In the words of Ju Ming, “I don’t believe that creation should be thought through. In the creative process, you don’t need to think, nor can you think. In this way, artistic creation will not be disturbed by other factors, thereby ensuring the simplicity and seriousness of creation.” In the Single Whip currently being auctioned, the artist’s carving marks are clearly visible. If these marks (the abandoned portion of the sculpture) represent the yin, then the body of the sculpture (the retained portion) symbolizes the yang. The artist gradually completed the sculpture through never-ending choices to “abandon” or “retain”. The pose in the sculpture not only is aesthetically beautiful, but moreover generates a strong visual tension that forces viewers to constantly think of dynamic moves being performed by a motionless figure.
Energized like a Drawn Bow, Powerful like an Arrow in Flight
When shaping the appearance of Single Whip, Ju Ming extricated himself from the realistic style of the past, using modern expression techniques to create a vivid image full of confidence and vitality. The subject’s arms and feet stretch outward, forming two straight lines. The posture is unrestrained yet modest. The left hand and foot are very close to each other, and both elbows are drooping. The chest is expanded and slightly tilted forward. The hooked right hand is raised slightly higher than the figure’s shoulders, while the knee on his right leg does not exceed the tips of his toes. From this point of view, the subject’s “single whip” posture has reached a state of equilibrium. In addition to the static balance that the sculpture exhibits, one can also imagine that the subject can maintain dynamic balance in a series of continuous moves while having also attained a state of tranquility in his heart. This reflects a perfect harmony between the body and the mind.
The gestures and movements sculpted by Ju Ming evoke the subtleties of Oriental culture. Single Whip uses a stationary posture to exhibit the beauty of taichi moves and combine motion and stillness into one. The shape of the character is oriented toward the qualities of dignity, quiescence, and calmness. The curvature of his arms and his geometrically shaped body imply rotation and changes in posture. It is as if he is accumulating strength, ready to jump and strike at any moment, yet at the same time, it is like he is undistracted while observing changes occurring in the outside world. Ju Ming has repeatedly practiced the moves of taichi, from which he realized that motion and stillness are just like yin and yang; they interact and are in harmony with each other. This reflects Chinese philosophy’s interpretation of the truth of the universe, and it means that the artist has truly established a vivid and smooth carving style full to the brim with Oriental charm.

Price estimate:
HKD: 1,800,000 - 2,500,000
USD: 230,800 - 320,500

Auction Result:
HKD: 2,950,000