ZHONG CHENG

Zhong Cheng 2024 Autumn Auction「Modern And Contemporary Art」

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    ZHENG LU (b.1978)

    Bow Without an Arrow No. 3

    2011

    Stainless Steel, 3/4
    Artwork: 49 x 112 x 168 cm Pedestal: 110 x 110 x 2.5 cm

    Signed on the pedestal: Zheng Lu in Chinese, dated 2011, numbered 3/4

    Estimate TWD 650,000-1,100,000
    USD 20,400-34,500
    HKD 0-0

    Hammer Price TWD 0
    USD 0
    HKD 0

With a certificate of authenticity from gallery

Provenance：

Illustrated：

Exhibition："Zheng Lu Solo Exhibition --- Bow Without an Arrow," Mot/Arts, Taipei, Taiwan, November 5th-December 18th, 2011 (another edition)

Exposition：

Chinese artist Zheng Lu, born in 1978 in Mongolia, embarked on a remarkable artistic journey that harmoniously fused Eastern cultural elements with the avant-garde sensibilities of Western contemporary sculpture. His artistic odyssey began at the Lu Xun Academy of Fine Arts and continued to flourish at the China Central Academy of Fine Arts. During his academic pursuit, Zheng Lu's undeniable talent shone brightly when he won the prestigious LVMH Young Artist Award in France. This honor granted him the opportunity to further enrich his creative perspective on a global stage.

Zheng Lu's artistic journey has been deeply influenced by his heritage. Hailing from a family rooted in traditional literati culture, he imbibed the rich essence of calligraphy and Chinese tradition from his father and grandfather. Zheng Lu seamlessly translated this early influence into a diverse palette of artistic elements, employing traditional Chinese poetry and prose, specifically in the square seal script. These elements were harmoniously integrated with the sleek modernity of stainless steel, giving birth to his distinctive three-dimensional sculptures. This fusion of "text" became the very essence of Zheng Lu's creative approach.

In 2011, Zheng Lu unveiled his Bow without an Arrow series, a conceptual exploration rooted in Daoist philosophy found in the classic "Liezi." Within its pages, we find profound wisdom: "The highest excellence is like that of water. The excellence of water appears in its benefiting all things, and in its occupying, without striving (to the contrary), the low place which all men dislike." In the realm of archery, traditional competitions focus on hitting precise targets, with any deviation viewed as a failure. However, the concept of Bow without an Arrow transcends the binary notions of success and failure. It represents an understanding of life's means—a state where winning and losing, self and goal, become irrelevant. Instead, it involves surrendering to the natural flow, achieving a higher state of existence. It is action devoid of action, words without words, and shooting without shooting.

Zheng Lu's vision is eloquently embodied in his sculpture Bow without an Arrow No.3, masterfully crafted from stainless steel and copper. The sculpture captures the graceful, powerful contours of the human form in motion. Notably, this piece is a rare dual-figure sculpture within Zheng Lu's oeuvre. The continuous hollow square seal script, serving as the backbone of the figures, draws inspiration from the poetry of Su Shi, a literary luminary of the Song Dynasty. Su Shi's verses, inscribed within the figures, read, "Resembling flowers but not quite, yet no one pities their fall, they are thrown from the home's edge to the roadside, where, without intentional pursuit, they are absorbed by nature." This sculpture transcends mere physicality; it narrates thoughts and ideas through its form, material, and context. When displayed in an exhibition space, the text infuses the atmosphere with the lyrical essence of poetry and song. The interplay of light and shadow within the hollowed spaces tempers the inherent hardness of stainless steel, exuding a subtle warmth—a touch of history. Within the cool, resolute structure, a delicate dialogue unfolds, forging connections between history and space.

Throughout the years, Zheng Lu has painstakingly crafted his unique artistic language and system through unwavering dedication to his craft. Bow without an Arrow No.3 stands as a testament to his ability to employ the human form as a canvas for multifaceted dialogues with history. It explores the intricate interplay of language, imagery, and cultural concepts. More importantly, it mirrors the artist's profound detachment—a transcendence of conventional wisdom through wisdom itself. Zheng Lu's art seeks the zenith of the human experience, offering a clarion call to introspection and evoking boundless artistic meaning.

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