Signature
Engraved Li Chen in Chinese and English,
Numbered 1/8 and dated 2003
This sculpture is to be sold with a certificate of authenticity issued
by Asia Art Int’l Group Corporation.
ILLUSTRATED:
Li Chen 1992-2002 Sculpture, Asia Art Center, Taipei, 2004, pp.
93-94
Li Chen in 52nd Venice Biennale - Energy of Emptiness, Venice,
Asia Art Center, Taipei, 2007, pp. 154-157, p. 219
Li Chen: In Search of Spiritual Space, 2008 Solo Exhibition at
National Art Museum of China, Asia Art Center, Taipei, 2008,
pp. 88-93, p. 197
+ OVERVIEW
On Cloud Mountains is one of the representative works in Wandering in the Greatness of Spirit series of Li Chen. The idea of his creation is inspired by Chinese philosophy and religions, which is the reason his work is carried with “spirit of the immortals”. The viewers could easily get into his work and calmly wander and relax in the spiritual world, since Li puts emphasis on the idea of “wandering” in his work. Li uses On Cloud Mountain as the material medium to accentuate the spirituality. As a Buddha saying goes, “Every thought comes from one’s mind”, the spiritual world that Li creates in his work, with a sense of humor and connotation, brings out the ethereal atmosphere, which allows the viewers to wander around in the peaceful and joyful wonderland. The facial expression of the figure of the sculpture is serene and merciful, showing the joy and peace in his mind. The bottom is a mountain, which transforms one of the Chinese pictograms “mountain” into a part of the sculpture. The wanderer puts his hands behind his back, standing on the top of the cloud with the expression of ease and joy. On Could Mountains successfully portrays the relations between mountains, the immortals and humans, brings out the idea of “Śūnyatā” (emptiness) in Buddhism and “Qi” (vital force in every creature) in Taoism, as well as shows the ideal of peace.