Taiwanese Sculptor Li Chen Opens Solo Exhibition in Seoul
Li Chen showcases 42 works, including sculptures and drawings, at the Gana Art Center, emphasizing Eastern philosophy and modern expression.
Taiwanese sculptor Li Chen, aged 63, is holding his first solo exhibition in South Korea titled 'New Eastern Spirit - Truthful and Transcendent' at the Gana Art Center in Pyeongchang-dong, Seoul. The exhibition features 42 pieces, including 21 sculptures and 21 drawings, ranging from his early works in 1999 to recent creations in 2025. The centerpiece of the exhibition is his 1999 work 'Butterfly Kingdom', which draws inspiration from Buddhist art but conveys humor and vitality rather than solemnity.
Li Chen's work explores traditional Chinese philosophies, including Confucianism, Taoism, and Buddhism, creating a unique sculptural language. His sculptures, made from heavy materials like bronze, exhibit soft and rounded forms that seem filled with air or energy. Instead of merely reproducing traditional motifs or following Western sculptural forms, he interprets Eastern thought through contemporary artistic language.
A notable piece in the exhibition, 'The Gift', features a bronze sculpture of a meditating figure. While it follows the serene posture of a seated Buddha, its smooth and rounded features diverge from traditional representations. The contrast between the polished body and the rough stone base symbolizes the coexistence of contradictions within human nature, such as good and evil, will and instinct, desire and restraint.
Li Chen describes his sculptures as 'Qi Yun Sheng Dong', a state where the life force of the subject seems to circulate and animate the work. He emphasizes the flow created by reducing linear elements and repeating curved surfaces.
Li Chen gained international recognition with his solo exhibition at the 52nd Venice Biennale in 2007 and has held exhibitions at major art institutions worldwide, including the National Museum of China in Beijing and the National Taiwan Museum of Fine Arts. In 2025, a monograph highlighting his artistic world will be published by a French art publisher.
