Bronze sculpture Edition: 7/10

63 × 54 × 42 cm. 24 3/4 × 21 1/4 × 16 1/2 in.

Numbered, dated and signed in Chinese on the bottom of the left side
PROVENANCE
Caves Art Center, Taipei
Acquired directly by present private important Asian collector from the above

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

Majestic, Imposing and Dignified
The Artistic Sublimation of Ju Ming’s 1990s Taichi Series

In the 1990s, Ju Ming received an incredibly positive response from the international art world to his majestic Taichi series of sculptures and held important exhibitions around the world, including at the Hong Kong Arts Center, Yorkshire Sculpture Park, Taipei Fine Arts Museum, The Hakone Open-Air Museum and Park Hyatt Paris-Vendôme. Ju also established an eponymous museum, where the artist’s explosive creative energy and desire to improve further elevated his Taichi series to a new artistic plane. From an Eastern perspective, Ju rejected the exquisite technique of artistic carving in favor of honing the sculpting skills needed to produce works that were simple and striking, while also conveying the spirit of Taichi, which combines “hardness and softness” and eastern philosophy focused on the “harmony of man and nature.” Learning from the West, he developed a wide range of stylistic expression, combining modern abstract sculpture and Cubism in ways that imbued traditional culture with new aesthetic power.

Ju Ming’s artistic sublimation and thinking reached its apogee in the two important works being auctioned; Taichi Series – Preparation for Underarm Strike ( Lot 78) and Taichi Series – Embrace Tiger, Return to Mountain (Lot 77).

The Way of Simplicity, a Heart Embracing the Whole World:
Taichi Series – Preparation for Underarm Strike

In the study of Taichi Martial Arts “Preparation for Underarm Strike” is generally considered the foundation of all moves. With the Chinese character for 10 (十) as its core, the hands of the practitioner can be together or separate and the legs can kick or squat, thereby making possible a rich array of changes. Ju Ming, who has practiced Taichi for many years, designated “Preparation for Underarm Strike” a focal theme showcased in the Taichi series and it was shown at several of his major solo exhibitions from the 1980s to the 1990s, including at the Max Hutchinson Gallery in New York, Exchange Square in Hong Kong and National Taiwan Museum of Fine Arts. In terms of shape the Taichi Series - Preparation for Underarm Strike is simple, while the body of the figure appears instantly strong and powerful. The work also expresses an indomitable breadth of mind, making it an important piece through which the artist highlighted the boundless majesty of his Taichi sculptures.

Indomitable, Hard and Soft

The work is rounded and smooth, with the carved lines arrow-straight and clear, showcasing a three-dimensional sense of geometric abstraction that is a vivid testament to the aesthetic philosophy of strength and softness in Taichi. The martial artist starts in the position of the Chinese character for 10, his right arm stretched out flat and elevated, the palm forming a curved concave shape. The left hand dips downwards slightly as if blocking an attack, a pose containing within it the potential for forceful change. The figure’s left leg is straight and solid, while the right knee is slightly bent in preparation, the position of the foot forming a protruding triangular block which infuses the piece with kinetic potential.

The work has a breathtaking majestic posture that perfectly interprets the way in which Taichi boosts the accumulation and flow of the body’s energy. The deep cut lines and thick solid blocks express the beauty of solemn silence like a stone stele, while the smooth flow and compact nature of the cross-like exterior speak to the vast power of centered serenity, allowing viewers to feel deep inside the unity of man and nature.

A Magnificent, Multifarious Aesthetic Collection:
Taichi Series – Embrace Tiger, Return to Mountain

In addition to exploring individual Taichi moves, Ju Ming also searched for the most distinctive moves. To that end, Embrace Tiger, Return to Mountain became one of the most eye-catching and rare expressive forms in the artist’s Taichi series. This piece represents a series of moves combined, with the hand pushing and embracing at the front to stop an enemy, while at the back the waist and legs generate power as the figure leaps forward to attack. A martial artist must attach equal importance to the stability of the legs and the precision with which an opponent is addressed. Ju Ming exquisitely presents the complexity and completeness of this move in Taichi Series – Embrace Tiger, Return to Mountain.

Variegated, Diverse and Independent

Viewed from divergent angles, the body of the work appears different and varied. For example, from the front the figure’s feet are together in a straight line, adopting a posture that is strong but flexible. However, seen from either side the focus is on the magnificently angular leg and its huge surface area. This highlights the lower part of the work as rock solid, with a body that is majestic and imposing. Viewed from the back, the rear leg and back tighten into a sharp line, like a blade highlighting the direction of the tip. The body spreads out on either side of the piece, its two arms like outstretched wings, with clear edges and corners. This work is similar to the multidimensional presentation in The Horse by Cubist sculpture Raymond Duchamp-Villonis, which was such that it could be stooping or jumping depending from where viewers looked. In this piece, Ju Ming uses different geometric shapes, but also infuses the power and speed of the posture into the smooth flowing and sharp cuts, which creates a powerful sense of momentum and tension. Seen as a whole, the core of the work is “posture,” with “strength” the thrust, as it rises from the ground with stability in the legs, generating power in the waist and form in the arms, each element carefully thought out and occurring in tandem. In this way, the work perfectly showcases the unique re-creation and amazing achievements of Ju Ming in the 1990s in combining the artistic language of East and West.

Price estimate:
HKD: 500,000 – 700,000
USD: 63,700 – 89,200

Auction Result:
HKD: 600,000