Bronze sculpture Edition: 23/30

35 × 28 × 19 cm. 13 3/4 × 11 × 7 1/2 in.

Signed in Chinese and numbered on the bottom of backside

LITERATURE
1990, The Sculpture of The Twelve Animals by Ju Ming, Caves Art Center, Taipei
PROVENANCE
Caves Art Center, Taipei
Acquired directly by present private Asian collector from the above

This work is accompanied by a certificate of authenticity signed by the artist issued by Caves Art Center, Taipei

Unsophisticated Truth, Unparalleled Spirit
The Sincere Heart of Ju Ming’s
Nativism Series

In March 1976, Ju Ming held his first solo exhibition at the National Museum of History in Taipei where he showed a series of sculptures representing “nativist charm.” Of these, the most familiar and intimate themes like Boy and Buffalo and Guan Yu, their vivid style, deft carving and natural simplicity ensuring the pieces were well received and attracted large crowds of visitors to the exhibition. As a result, an event originally scheduled to last one week was extended for a full year and thereafter a dedicated exhibition hall opened. Indeed, the works of Ju Ming very much echoed the artistic demands of nativism at that time for a return to basics. Moreover, the artist’s re-working of natural, folk and traditional elements led to the development of a brand-new form of modernist art. From this moment, the Nativist Series came to be seen as emblematic of the moment when Ju Ming’s artistic career took off.

Leisurely ‘Boy and Buffalo,’ Melody of Truth

For Ju Ming the water buffalo represents childhood memories of grazing the animal and it is an important motif in the Nativist Series. The work Boy and Buffalo (Lot 75) showcases a poetic scene with “a cow herd returning astride a buffalo. Blowing on his flute a tune he may not know.” There are two buffalos, one large, one small, walking slowly side by side, while the young cowherd is a microcosm of the artist’s childhood. In contrast to Ju’s earlier realist sculptures, this piece employs extensive but meticulous sculpting technique to create visual tension and dynamism. The detailed carving of the tether around the buffalo’s ear conveys memories of rural life, while the body of the animal is made up of blocks imbued with a geometric abstract feel that highlight the animal’s powerful life energy. The flat and outward extending horns and the flute played by the cowherd echo each other at a distance, vividly contrasting the fortitude of the buffalo with the innocence of the young boy in a way that is particularly lifelike. The work is replete with form, spirit and sentiment, while the two buffalos and the child provide a connection to the deep emotion of “people and rural nature,” highlighting Ju Ming’s back to basics artistic style.

Clever Monkeys Scaling the Heights

Having made a name for himself in the world of art with the Nativist series, in 1989 Ju Ming presented an eye-catching extension of that motif with his Chinese Zodiac series. The ingenious idea behind the work Twelve Chinese Zodiac – Monkey (Lot 74) was to present a narrative work showing two monkeys helping each other, focused on the sensitivity and affectionate nature of the animal. From ancient times to the present, artists have painted primates, including Northern Song painter Yi Yuanji (1000-1084) and Qi Baishi (1864-1957), invariably finding the task of depicting the flexible posture and almost human wisdom of the animals particularly challenging. In terms of style, Ju Ming combines refinement in roughness and the expression of spirit through the depiction of form. As such, the rock and monkeys are built from accumulated blocks, growing incrementally layer by layer, crafting a scene where they appear as if about to set out on a journey, conveying the message: “Two monkeys climb a tree, ascending step by step.” In this work, the monkey on the right holds a branch and appears strong and full of energy while the one on the left clings to the other’s back, with its hands extended, cleaning the first monkey’s fur. The artist’s well-executed and incisive sculpting technique conveys the spirit of friendship based on mutual assistance and love, while also emphasizing that the artistic spirit of Ju Ming is “rooted in life, fluently conveying form and meaning” in ways that are sincere and touching.

Advent of the Saint of War, Uniting Past and Present

Ju Ming’s embrace of sculpture started with his early studies of temple idols and as a result he created works based on Buddhist themes, which were was also an important element in the Nativist series. When Ju returned to this motif in the 1990s, he dropped many of the details in favor of highlighting the use of majestic power learned from Taichi. However, the bronze sculpture Guan Yu (Lot 76) produced in 1996 greatly refined the charm inherent in the “martial” spirit of Tai Chi, using the bold and decisive strength and speed inherent in sculpting movements to imbue form with spirit and draw attention to the character of Guan Yu as a timeless source of inspiration. As for the countenance of the deity, his phoenix eyes are slightly closed as his beard is blown by the wind and he appears lost in thought, with Ju employing just a handful of chiseling moves to imbue him with an expression of authority. In terms of stature, Guan Yu has broad shoulders and a wide back, but is also tall and upright, the accumulated sense of volume creating a powerful body, while his towering official headdress and green dragon crescent blade add to the image of the deity being bold and powerful. In addition, the thick bronze texture underscores that Guan Yu has the unstoppable power of a river bursting its banks and flowing out in an irresistible flood. If we look more carefully the detail is extremely dynamic, with several quick angular chisel marks depicting his elegant clothing flapping in the wind, adding a vivid and lifelike feel to this solemn patron saint. Through the refinement of form, profundity of spirit and reworking of meaning, Ju Ming employs his rich artistic imagination to reimagine the heroic spirit that underpins the bravery of Guan Yu known around the world, in a way that is truly unforgettable.

Price estimate:
HKD: 60,000 – 100,000
USD: 7,600 – 12,700

Auction Result:
HKD: 150,000