Two Taiwanese artists, Wu Ching (吳卿) and Huang Fu-shou (黃福壽), will be presenting their jade and gold sculptures in a virtual exhibition titled "Treasures in Gold & Jade : Masterworks from Taiwan" in California from Mar. 17 through Sep. 5.
Due to the pandemic, the exhibition has been unable to open to the public. Hence, in collaboration with Taiwan Academy in Los Angeles, Bowers Museum is presenting virtual tours of this exhibition so that the works of the artists can be shown.
In this exhibition, Wu showcases 17 poetic gold sculptures including his first sculpture "Parental Love," which is a detailed carving of a mother ant nurturing her beloved kid. Huang exhibits 27 carvings that show a surprising range of jade's colors: from emerald green to an almost pearlescent white. The sculptures include a fish springing from water, insects weightlessly clinging to blades of grass.
Wu and Huang use different mediums to explore many same themes. Almost every sculpture in the exhibition illustrates the artists' analogies for environmentalism, familial relationships, and the ephemerality of time. Huang's jade carvings pushes the boundary of what is possible within the rigid medium of jade, while Wu captures the majesty of gold, striking a perfect balance between spiritual and material elements.
Born in Kaohsiung in 1957, Huang specializes in delineating the veins of flowers and leaves, as well as the tiny details such as wings and legs. He received the title of "National Living Treasure" – an official designation that recognizes living artists and important groups for their role in preserving the nation's cultural heritage - in 2020.
Wu was born in Chiayi in 1956, he first encountered carving at the age of 17 and developed his rudimentary technique from carving wood furniture, without any formal training. His first sculptural installation was a series of large carvings of ants, a motif which he would return to throughout his career.
For more information on the virtual exhibition, please visit here.