North of Taipei, Taiwan, nearly to the north coast of the island, is the Juming Museum. Sculptor Ju Ming created the museum and it is a piece of art itself.
Initially a woodcarver, Ju Ming (see biography at art net) works in media from styrofoam to ceramics to stainless steel.
I visited recently with San Francisco's Society for Asian Art.
Whenever I visit outdoor art installations I ask both "Does the location enhance the art?" but also "does the art enhance the location?" For Ju Ming's art, often the answer to both was "yes!"
He is famous for his taichi figures: big, stony and yet in motion. As you can see from the first photo, it looks like you wandered into a tai chi practice.
But there were many other pieces at the museum. Not just the stainless steel guest on the bench below but the swans in the pond are sculpture.
There was an indoor museum with visiting exhibits. These big balls tip back and forth, slowly creeping across the floor.
But the outdoors was the setting for most of Ju Ming's big sculptures.
Look:
The soldiers are in support of Taiwan's armed forces, each is life size and each is different. (There is probably also a nod to the terracotta army of the first emperor of China, link) Their presence transforms the path:
And, aren't the paratroopers fun? The parachutes are a mix of materials so that they shine whatever the light is.
And then there are tired visitors outside the tea house:
and a queue to get into the main building
There were hundreds of pieces (2,000 the brochure says) to encounter and enjoy, and games for children that adults could not resist, painting with water on the wall, for example.
Across the gardens were artistic scenes small and vast:
a dozen life-size commuters,
rocks with zippers,
and a lake and forested hill with stainless steel figures and a troop of soldiers.
Not everything worked for me, but it was clear the grounds were part of the art of Ju Ming. A delight for the eyes and mind.
Comments and corrections welcome.
Kathy Keeler, A Wandering Botanist
More at awanderingbotanist.com
Thank you for sharing your photos of this sculpture garden; they were beyond
ReplyDeleteanything I have ever seen and you so beautifully highlighted features that were special about each piece. I loved large size of the pieces and the fact that there were so many of them; but most of all I loved his artistic choices of subject matter. I will certainly be sharing this blog with many friends.
These sculptures are love. I just love them all. All are looking great. Thanks for sharing such wonderful post. Keep sharing.
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This collection, alone, gives me more perspective on embattled Taiwan. Thank you, it certainly honors the ordinary human.
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