EXHIBITED:
Li Chen - In Search of Spiritual Space, National Museum of China, Beijing, 2008

ILLUSTRATED:
Li Chen in 52nd Venice Biennale-Energy of Emptiness, Venice, Asia Art Center, Taipei, 2007, color illustrated, pp. 196-197
Li Chen: In Search of Spiritual Space, 2008 Solo Exhibition at National Art Museum of China, Asia Art Center, Taipei, 2008, color illustrated, pp. 158-165
Greatness of Spirit: Li Chen Premiere Sculpture Exhibition in Taiwan, Asia Art Center, Taipei, 2012, color illustrated, p. 10

"Soul" is a quintessentially Li Chen work completed with artistic freedom, reifying the essential spirit, soul and providence which are eyes cannot see but which our hearts abundantly trust to be true anyway, and accomplishing this difficult if magical act in a completely adorable manner. Amidst the artistic imagination, inspiration provides an almost inexhaustable source of creative energy, such as through traditional amulet bracelets or other sources of calm and comfort, ensuring to us enjoyment of that most peaceful, nirvanic state, all the time.

Li Chen relies on intentionally grandiose dimensionality in this work to create a human image, seemingly heavily paced, yet with somewhat simple, innocent, and even shy expressions. It is almost as if he is on a proverbial abyss, in a land where rational thought escapes and pure, raw emotions reign; sitting playfully atop the angelic figure is a young child, yet seen from the back perspective appears to be perhaps a playful penguin or other sea mammal, also with a truly angelic face; and in the right side pocket of the figure one almost finds the image of a maternal breast, and yet which resembles a yo-yo of some kind- as the artistic significance is left to the observer’s imagination!