ILLUSTRATED:
Li Chen: In Search of Spiritual Space, Solo Exhibition at National Art Museum of China, Asia Art Center, Taipei, 2008, color illustrated, p. 190

Exuding a serenity and lightness of being in direct contrast to the heavy, metallic materials from which they are produced, Li Chen’s celestial sculptures bring the ideals of traditional Buddhist and Taoist philosophy into the modern era. A self-taught artist, Li first developed his sculptural technique in the creation of Buddha and bodhisattva sculptures for temples in his hometown of Yunlin, Taiwan. Inspired by the plump, rounded forms from Tang dynasty sculpture, Li then expanded his aesthetic to establish his own unique sculptural style, seeking a new artistic lexicon to express the quintessence of this philosophical thought.

With direct influence from Buddhist philosophic ideals, Causal exhibits Li Chen’s singular skill in crafting forms of tranquil weightlessness to convey the transcendence of enlightenment. Supported by shining, ethereal figures, a meditative figure floats with eyes closed in peaceful contemplation. The central figure’s gently clasped hands and feet reflect the posture of the five behind, whose faces Li has rendered in exultant jubilation. Complex and multifaceted in composition, Causal reveals various aspects of Buddhist philosophy when viewed from different angles.

When viewed from the front, the tranquil darkness of the central subject complements the brilliant vibrancy of the five figures behind; when viewed from the side, however, the layered construction becomes apparent. Finally, the view of the reverse obstructs the central figure, as the five golden extensions now take the form of a holy Bohdi tree, branching from a sturdy, deeply rooted trunk. An exploration in the beauty of contrast, in Causal, Li juxtaposes light with shadow, texture with smoothness, buoyancy with mass, each antithetical element combining with melodious harmony to create a work of captivating calm and serene weightlessness.