Page 92 - 亚洲二十世纪及当代艺术

24 ϡთ 1938 – 2023 Ju Ming

͗Մ Rabbit
˝ᎉ Wood sculpture
7
40.3 × 38.2 × 20.8 cm. 15 /8 × 15 × 8 /4 in.
1
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ԭݲӷɛϗᔛ PROVENANCE
Private Collection, Asia
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issued by Nonprofit Organization Juming Culture and
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Education Foundation
HKD 150,000 – 250,000
USD 19,200 – 32,100
imbues modern Chinese sculpture with a soul.” up and feet extended, while the rabbit squatting next to her has
docile flappy ears and is looking back and lifting its head, carefree
{{English art historian Michael Sullivan
and playful. Ju employs his exquisite carving technique and
Ju Ming, was born Chu Chuan-tai in Tonghsiao Township, Miaoli. lifelike images to imbue the rabbits with an almost human spirit
In 1938, at the age of 15 he was taught how to carve Buddha by revealing through the work how moved he is by such expressions
Lee Chin-chuan and at 30 years old left work and started to study of maternal love, and the way in which he surrounds the rabbits
under sculptor Yuyu Yang, marking the beginning of an artistic with auspicious clouds and happy sentiments is equally moving.
career that lasted half a century. In 1976, Ju held his first solo Like an Awe-inspiring Winged Tiger
exhibition at the National Museum of History in Taipei and through After Ju Ming made a name for himself in the art world with the
his Nativist Series established a name for himself. The artist Nativist Series of works, he built on this reputation with his new
once noted: “My artistic career has been like the growth of a tree,
nativism is its roots, the Taichi series its branches.” Having grown Chinese Zodiac Series in 1989. In the Chinese zodiac, the regal
up in rural Taiwan, in his early years Ju Ming chose such real-life demeanour of the tiger makes it a synonym for bravery and
motifs as young cowherds, water buffalo, pigs and goats, in which strength, an idea deeply rooted in the popular mindset. This is
also visible in the way the artist showcases the animal in the
he showcased a convergence of elements from nature, folk life work Twelve Chinese Zodiac - Tiger. The fierce tiger is presented
and tradition, to create sculpted forms that deeply resonated with rushing down a mountain incline, its mouth wide open, with angry
viewers. These echoed the call, popular at that time, to return to staring eyes, claws extended and its tail waving in the air, as if
a simpler past and vocally promoted by the nativist movement. ready to pounce. Ju selects the moment at which the tiger is most
Indeed, such pieces brimming with sincerity and appeal also explosive, right before it leaps and makes the elevated curled tail
established a path to modern sculpture, with Rabbit (Lot 24) and of the big cat the highest focal point for viewers. When the artist
Twelve Chinese Zodiac–Tiger (Lot 23) being outstanding examples sculpted the facial features of the tiger, he deliberately avoided
of this genre.
any detailed depiction of its demeanour, preferring to express
Exquisite Rabbit, Good Things Come in Pairs overlapping opposites. Despite giving the tiger deeply sunken eyes
When creating Rabbit, Ju Ming took a large camphor stake and Ju ingeniously presents it in an intimidating roaring pose. The body
crafted a layered space by employing high relief methods in the of the animal also shows marks of chiseling on blocks, highlighting
centre of the wrap-around tree growth rings. He then carved the its tough imperviousness. The head, body and tail of the tiger are
wood, creating a rounded shape within the original square, with joined as a single unit, together highlighting its “awe-inspiring”
the top and bottom semi-circular and the sides arc-shaped. In heroic bearing and manner in a way that is instantly magnificent.
contrast, the inner area is hollowed out and surrounded on all Amazing Variety in the Living World
sides by decorative patterns Living World Series – Lining Up with the Rare Inclusion of a
such as sweet Osmanthus Ju Ming Self Sculpture
and auspicious clouds, as The work Living World Series – Lining Up (Lot 25) has been well
if re-presenting the myth
of Wu Gang chopping an received by public museums and private collectors alike. The
prototype sculpture outside Hong Kong Cultural Centre used
Osmanthus tree on the life-sized figures waiting in line, and the same style of work was
moon, showcasing the displayed and collected by Ju Ming Museum and Singapore Art
message “Good things
come in pairs, auspicious Museum. The work Living World Series – Lining Up (Lot 25) being
rabbit.” The two rabbits auctioned on this occasion is a rarity, a bronze piece of which there
at the centre of the work are only 10 versions that can be collected privately and presented
are vividly depicted, the as a table case collection. The work ingeniously captures a
moment from everyday life in which a group of people queue
mother rabbit on the up, utilizing a collective point of view to focus on the differences
right has piercing eyes, between them. Each one of the 10 figures in the queue is styled
her ears are pricked
differently, there is a mother wearing brightly coloured clothes,
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