The Tao of Taiwanese Sculpture

Photos and story

by Stephen A. Nelson
The Tao of Taiwanese Sculpture
 
If there is one thing I learned in Taiwan, it's this: language is an art, art is culture, and culture is politics.

And in Taiwan, the best art - like the best politics - is rooted and grounded in tradition and history, but not bound by it.
Such is the work of Taiwanese sculpture Juming - a renowned artist who works can be found at the Juming Museum in JinShan (Gold Mountain), a scenic mountain area about an hour's drive from Taipei.
The Juming Museum is only outdoor sculpture museum in Taiwan - an oasis of art where the architecture, landscape design, and gardening were all carried out or overseen by Juming himself.
The most famous of his works - and in my view the most compelling  - are those in his Taichi collection. Indeed, these are his signature works.

Inspired and informed by taichi - a "soft" or "internal" form of kung fu, the sculptures are poetry in motion.
Shapeless and formless becomes perfect form.
Men of solid bronze appear fluid.
That which is perfectly still seems dynamic.
A body at rest remains in motion.
External conflict with another brings inner peace with oneself and the world.

 
Photo © Stephen A. Nelson



Photo © Stephen A. Nelson



Photo © Stephen A. Nelson


 
Photo © Stephen A. Nelson


 
Photo © Stephen A. Nelson


 
Photo © Stephen A. Nelson



Photo © Stephen A. Nelson


Photos and story © Stephen A. Nelson

Further Information:
Beispielbild
Stephen A. Nelson - Foto © Frank Becker

Current:
Freelance Travel Writer at Brandon Sun - FP Newspapers
Freelancer at Asia Times Online
Editor Writer Coach at Freelancer
 
Past:
News Editor, Program Host at Radio Taiwan International
Managing Editor at British Chamber of Commerce in Taipei
Supervisor / Editor / Member at Canadian Society in Taiwan
Bilingual Section Editor / Team Leader at Taipei Times
English trainer consultant at ING
Editor / Teacher at Studio Classroom / Overseas Radio and Television (ORTV)
Assistant Lifestyle / Entertainment Editor at Brandon Sun
Reporter-Photographer at The Thompson Citizen
 
Education
University of Saskatchewan - Lutheran Theological Seminary
Augustana University College
Camrose Lutheran College
Ryerson University
 
More about Taiwan by Stephen A. Nelson: Global View - Taiwan

Even more: