Ju Ming | Tai Chi Series: Axed and Chiseled Volumes and Dynamics

A group of large human-figure sculptures, formed by carving volumes with extremely few cuts: an arm is merely a diagonally cut slab, a leg consists of two interlocking blocks, and the head is often just a square with a corner shaved off. All details are discarded, leaving only the shift of the center of gravity, the twist of the body, and the direction of force—the "momentum" of the action is more important than the correctness of the form. The prototypes are roughly carved from Styrofoam or wood with large knives, then cast in bronze, thus the surface completely retains the planes and ridges of the knife cuts, rough and decisive. The bronze is oxidized to dark brown or blackened. The works are often arranged in groups on grass, with a push-hands echoing relationship between them. Shot under soft oblique light, the light and shadow of the carved surfaces and the momentum are clear. Avoid: smoothing and polishing the surface, adding details like fingers and facial features, isolated single placement, static poses without momentum.

Translated from Chinese by AI.

一組大型的人形雕塑,以極少的刀數把量體劈砍成型:手臂只是一塊斜切的板、腿是兩個交錯的塊體、頭部往往只是一個被削掉一角的方。細節全部捨棄,只留下重心的偏移、身體的扭轉與力的方向——動作的「勢」比形體的正確更重要。原型以保麗龍或木材大刀砍出,再翻鑄成青銅,因此表面完整保留刀削的平面與稜線,粗糙而果決。青銅氧化成深褐或塗黑。作品常成組配置在草地上,彼此之間有推手的呼應關係。柔和的斜光下拍攝,削面的明暗與動勢清楚。避免:表面磨平拋光、加入手指五官等細節、單件孤立配置、姿態靜止無動勢。