Bronze sculpture Edition: 7/8

127 × 99 × 66 cm. 50× 39 × 26 in.

Incised with date, stamp, signed in English, and numbered on the back of the left foot

LITERATURE (different dimensions, editions)
2009, Li Chen: Soul Guardians – Li Chen Sculptures, Asia Art Center, Taipei, cover page and p. 64, 77, 80-81, 86, 101, 128-133, 155, 166, 202-203 and 232
2010, Li Chen: Mind．Body ．Spirit, Singapore Art Museum, Singapore, p. 46, 55, 73, 110-117, 180-181 and 184
2012, Greatness of Spirit: Li Chen Premiere Sculpture Exhibition in Taiwan, Asia Art Center, Taipei, p. 11, 29, 106-109, 133, 183, 191 and 195-196
2014, Monumental Levity of Li Chen: Premiere Sculpture Exhibition Place Vendôme, Asia Art Center, Taipei, cover page, p. 18-19, 26-27, 43, 100-101, 114 and 140
2016, Knowledge and Enlightenment – “Immortality of Fate” and “Ordinary People” Series Debut Exhibitions, Asia Art Center, Taipei, p. 27, 32 and 79
EXHIBITED (different dimensions, editions)
18 Oct 2008 – 21 Feb 2009, Soul Guardians – In an Age of Disasters and Calamities, Asia Art Center, Beijing
17 Sep – 9 Dec 2009, Li Chen: Mind．Body ．Spirit, Singapore Art Museum, Singapore
6 Nov – 4 Dec 2011, Greatness of Spirit – Li Chen Premiere Sculpture Exhibition in Taiwan, Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall, Taipei
2 – 29 Sep 2013, Li Chen 2013 Place Vendôme Premiere Solo Exhibition in Paris, Vendôme Square, Paris
1 Jun – 24 Nov 2013, Collateral Event of Chinese Art at the 55th Venice Art Biennale, Palazzo Mora, Venice

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

This work is accompanied by a certificate of authenticity issued by Asia Art Int'l Group Corporation

Wind and Fire Complement Each Other, Rising to the Summit
The Sculptures of Li Chen Embody the Divine Power of Nature

“I attempt to depict a kind of power beyond that of ordinary people, a ‘divine power.' All unknown forces of nature and powers surpassing humans, we call them gods. My personal power alone is limited, so I borrow the power of sculpture to create a visual dialogue with the viewer, thus creating Lord of Wind and Lord of Fire.”
——Li Chen

Chinese sculpture art infuses a spiritual essence born of vitality and harmony with nature into both deities and human figures. Contemporary Chinese artist Li Chen injects this abundant divinity from the appearance to the inner meaning of this work. His sculptural language is harmonious and substantial, reflecting a natural and effortless optimism and approachable humour, achieving a unique artistic world that sets him apart from others.

Since 2008, Li Chen has extended the traditional aesthetics of history to view natural elements such as wind, fire, thunder, gold, wood, water and earth as a kind of creative “divine power.” With the concept of “spiritual awareness in a limited body,” he aims to dissolve all obstacles and present the remarkable Soul Guardians Series. In this auction, we present the most stunning and representative works of this series, Lord of Fire (Lot 30) and Lord of Wind (Lot 29). This is their first-ever appearance in an auction, making them exceptionally rare. The works trace back to the power of the “Fengbo (Deity of Wind)” and the “Flame Emperor” in ancient Chinese literature, transforming admiration for ancient gods into vivid and extraordinary pieces, showcasing spiritual power beyond the physical. Both works have been widely published and exhibited since their completion in 2008, appearing at the National Art Museum of China, Singapore Art Museum, Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall in Taipei, and an artist's solo exhibition at Place Vendôme in Paris, sparking widespread discussion and response.

Riding the Wind with the Stamina of an Eagle

In Su Shi's Ode to the Red Cliff, he eloquently said, “vast and boundless like commanding the wind, yet unaware of its destination; like a transcendent being, feathered and ascending to heaven.” This perfectly captures the essence of Li Chen's Lord of Wind. The sculpture is full and rounded, with smooth lines created by the artist's signature black ink, giving it a shiny lacquer-like look that transforms the invisible nature of wind into a tangible entity. It seems to float above a silver auspicious cloud, rising from a sandy platform and looking down upon all beings. Holding a command token of the Lord of Wind, with his left arm raised and cheeks puffed. He exhales wind from his mouth and takes it in, showcasing the circulation of his breath. The lush brushstroke on his forehead shines with a warm, radiant light, reflecting a profound and contemplative sentiment.

Where does the Lord of Wind come from? He is formless, odourless, and unable to be captured, yet he exists between heaven and earth. He embodies a power that is “as light as a goose feather and as heavy as Mount Tai.” Li Chen fully integrates this perception into his sculpture that appears both “heavy and light,” with the Lord of Wind standing tall on a small silver cloud, supported by the divine power of nature. The matte black finish creates a hazy texture that fluctuates between solidity and fluidity, combining the real and the imaginary to create an aesthetic tension that invites us to enter the meditation of nature and to contemplate the “emptiness” and the power of the wind.

The Fiery Dragon Dances Wildly with the Infinite Expanse

Contrasting with the elegance of the Lord of Wind is the wildness and vitality of the Lord of Fire. According to the Hanshu (History of Han): Lüli zhi (Treatise on Harmonics and Astronomy), “Shennong processed noble virtue, was known as the Flame Emperor because of his mastery of fire.” In this work, Li Chen uses fiery red to simulate the infinite tension of the Flame Emperor, whose form is more martial and agile. With his left arm raised and his right hand holding the command token of the “Lord of Fire”, he summons the power of the divine, standing atop ranging flames and exhaling the essence of the samadhis. The fingertips and toes are crafted with the use of gold, radiating a divine brilliance. The golden flames flicker on the top of the head and along the arm curves. The fiery mark on the forehead echoes the flames in his mouth, adding to his wild and unrestrained aura. The soaring Lord of Fire in the sky seems to bring down raging heavenly fire, bringing light, warmth, and hope. His body is devoid of black ink, but a layer of ink-like ash is spread under his feet. This represents the sediment after charcoal combustion and the vitality rekindled from the ashes, depicting the constant cycle of life and revealing the ultimate law of nature. Wind and fire complement each other, giving rise to smoke and clouds.

With the two-divine works of wind and fire, Li Chen attempts to illustrate the vitality of natural world from a divine perspective, embodied in the phrase, “a prairie fire cannot burn all the weeds, it grows again when the spring breeze blows.” As ordinary beings, we look up to the power of gods, transforming nature's gifts into our own re-creation, while remaining vigilant in protecting the environment and understanding nature. Li Chen's new Eastern aesthetic, which blends classical beauty and contemporary sensibility, encapsulates the extraordinary transformation of natural forms. His avant-garde thinking endows traditional civilization with contemporary significance, imbuing it with a pure power that is almost Taoist, almost Confucian, and almost divine, resonating with the most abundant spiritual pursuit.

Price estimate:
HKD 1,000,000 – 1,500,000
USD 128,200 – 192,300