Bronze sculpture Edition: 8/8

118 × 57 × 46 cm. 46 1/2 × 22 1/2 × 18 1/3 in.

Signed in Chinese and pinyin, numbered and dated on the bottom backside of the figure

LITERATURE (different sized edition)
2004, Li Chen 1992-2002 Sculpture, Asia Art Center, Taipei, p. 93-94
2007, Li Chen : Energy of Emptiness 2007 Solo Exhibition – 52nd International Art Exhibition – La Biennale di Venezia, Asia Art Center, Taipei, p. 154-157 and p. 219
2008, Li Chen : In Search of Spiritual Space 2008 Solo Exhibition at National Art Museum of China, Asia Art Center, Taipei, p. 88-93 and p. 197
2019, Through the Ages – Li Chen, Asia Art Center, Taipei, p. 171
EXHIBITED (different sized edition)
8 Jun – 21 Nov 2007, Li Chen: Energy of Emptiness – 52nd International Art Exhibition – La Biennale di Venezia, Venice

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

This work is accompanied by a certificate of authenticity issued by Asia Art Center, Taipei

The World Overwhelmed with Prosperity, The Sculpture Endowed with Life and Vividness
The Spiritual Convergence of Li Chen's Sculpture Works

“Art is an inner thing, a mental service, a spiritual communication.”
——Li Chen

Merging the roundness and refinement of the oriental Buddha statues, humor, and interest of contemporary elements, Li Chen presents the attitude of “lifting weight as light as light”, which is the individual vocabulary of Li's sculptures. He refines Eastern philosophies from the principles of Buddhism and has realized spiritual perception from the inside out. He tries to convey a different spiritual world with different works, which is widely praised by the Chinese and Western art circles. In 2007, he became the first Chinese artist to hold a solo exhibition in the Venice Biennale, and in 2008, 2009, and 2011 he successively held solo exhibitions at the National Art Museum of China, Singapore Art Museum, and Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall in Taipei. In 2013, the large-scale exhibition held at Place Vendome in Paris caused huge attention. His works were also collected from organizations, such as the Kaohsiung Museum of Fine Arts, the Geneva Olenska Foundation, St. Regis Hotel in Singapore, and other institutions, which shows his leading position in the Chinese art world.

A Spirit Stands on the Top of a High Mountain

At this auction, we present Li Chen's On Cloud Mountains (Lot 88) and Illuminator (Lot 89) on the same stage. The former belongs to his most famous Aura series, showing the detached spirit of immortals standing on the top of the mountain. In the Illuminator, the first work of the The Beacon series was completed in 2008, in which the groundbreaking addition of gilded elements representing fire creates a rich contemporary artistic appearance.
On Cloud Mountains is based on the idea of the Butterfly Dream from the Spiritual Journey through the Great Ether series. The work is presented through a style of “light control heavy”. The work is literally translated as Mount Qingliang, which takes the meaning of the holy place. Mount Qingliang is another name for Shanxi's Buddhist holy land Mount Wutai, where the temperature is cool and comfortable. In this place of purity, he superimposes mountains, clouds, and people with the superposition of visual height and the juxtaposition of different texture and color layers to present the concrete form of the spiritual world. Li ingeniously activates the shape of the Chinese character-mountain (山), placing Bodhisattva on a mountain top that resembles hieroglyphs, echoing the shape of the mountain. The work presents the pure land of the soul, vividly showing the idea of respecting the mountain.

Bodhisattva in the work rides a silver cloud on the top of the mountain, with the world in mind, yet lonely and freely, demonstrating a pure and calm temperament. The combination of the ink color and the silver's warm and moist texture fully visualizes the Bodhisattva's spirit of “communicating with heaven and earth alone”, making people feel the infinite dimensions of the inner world.

Light the Lamp to Enlighten the Mind

The Beacon series completed in 2008 was another turning point for Li's sculpture creation, which further developed a richer context regarding to both the materials and concepts. In this series of only 8 pieces, the gilding is an element added for the first time, symbolizing fire and lighting, and helping the viewer have the spiritual interaction with the work. Illuminator is the first work of the series, originating from the manuscripts of the Spiritual Journey through the Great Ether series. However, one day, the artist had instant enlightenment when he lighted the lamp, which was selected as the beginning of a new series The Beacon, which carries the inspiration and meaning of the artist's breakthrough of his pattern.

In Buddhism, the lamplighter is the person who can enlighten people in phrases. Li uses a slender structure like a candle column, which turns the boy's body as a lamp to guard the candlelight. He expects it to illuminate people's inner dilemma, reveal the light of wisdom in silence, and reflect the light and clear inner state. From the intangible aura to the tangible body shape, the philosophical essence of “emptiness” in Buddhism is deeply integrated with the human appearance. The highly creative art form is thoughtful and moving in intimacy.

Price estimate:
HKD: 1,280,000 – 2,280,000
USD: 165,100 – 294,000

Auction Result:
HKD: 2,950,000