LI CHEN (TAIWAN, B. 1963)

Li Chen incorporates Buddhist, Taoist, and Confucian thought into contemporary sculpture; starting from the principle of conciseness, he uses soft, round lines to create art that fuses Western minimalism with Eastern understatedness. Li Chen emphasizes the physical manifestations of spirituality, hoping that the streamlined form of his work will not only attract the viewer's gaze but also carry the work's spiritual significance into the viewer's heart. In All In One (Lot 64), the Buddha holds his palms together, serene and solemn. Although the standing Buddha is a traditional form, Li Chen infuses it with contemporary visual vocabulary through smooth, flowing lines, but it still exudes an air of devotion. Calmness, oneness, and fearlessness emanate from the pressed palms and fingers, a metaphor for the great wisdom of life.