With a certificate of authenticity from Michael Goedhuis
Provenance：
Illustrated："Li Chen 1992-2002 Sculpture," Asia Art Center, 2004, Page 78-79
"Li Chen in 52nd Venice Biennale- Energy of Emptiness," Asia Art Center, 2007, Page104-107
"TOP 10 Chinese Contemporary Sculpture Exhibition," Asia Art Center, 2007, Page 51
"Li Chen- In Search of Spiritual Space," Asia Art Center, 2008, Page 31-51
Exhibition："Li Chen - In Search of Spiritual Space," National Taiwan Museum of Fine Arts, National Art Museum of China, Beijing, 29 April-11 May, 2008
Exposition：
Li Chen, a contemporary artist born in Yunlin, has enjoyed wide recognition. His sculpture combines the Buddhist and Taoist philosophy, as well as contemporary ideology. The result is the aesthetics of void and emptiness. His work has been exhibited in major cities throughout the world, including New York, Copenhagen, Paris and Beijing, and is among private and public collections worldwide. He was the first Chinese artist to hold a solo exhibition in Venice Biennial in 2007. This piece is from the series of Spiritual Journey Through the Great Ether. He uses dark raw lacquer, and created an innovative technique that involves applying gold and silver leaves onto the bronze sculpture. He is also the first artist to exhibit his artwork at the International Cannes Film Festival this year.
This piece combines the intricacy of Buddhist statutes and contemporary simplicity, while the sleek texture and the plump figure intrigue. The gold mountain in the right hand represents the material world, while the sea of silver in the left represents the spiritual realm, a reflection toward the materialistic mundane contrasted by the clean and unadorned darkness of the bronze. The ethereal air spreads among the solid and austere. The plump body and the peaceful expression draw the viewers into a meditative state of nothingness, and complete the spiritual realm in itself. In Spiritual Journey Through the Great Ether, the bronze sculpture seems substantial and yet light, encompassing the Taoist principle of “essence, chi and spirit.” The piercing aura seems out of this world. Li once said, “The greatness of art lies in ‘sharing’, while the accomplishment of art lies between ‘reality and virtuality’. I am not merely creating a sculpture, but happiness and something enjoyable.” His work appears to be in a perfect state of tranquility. Between the form and formless, he leads the viewers back to the beginning, to be nourished within beauty.
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