Period: Dec. 2, 2016 (Fri.) - Jun. 11, 2017 (Sun.)
Opening hours:Tuesday to Sunday and national holiday, from 9 am to 5 pm
Location: Craft Exhibition Hall, National Taiwan Craft Research and Development Institute
(No.573,Zhongzheng Rd., Caotun Township, Nantou County 542, Taiwan (R.O.C.))
Due to its limits in techniques, tools, economy, and environment, the production of stone carvings requires more time when compared to other forms of artistic expression. In the early days prior to the invention of machines, hand-made stone sculptures take years and even decades to complete. Not only do these works extend throughout the lifetime of an artist and then become their representing achievement, but also become a symbol of its time or civilization.
Under the influence of politics and economics, stone sculptures in Taiwan have gradually transformed from traditional folk religion purposes and OEM exports to the artistic realm. Since the 1980s, stone sculptures have become more and more active in competitions, exhibitions, workshops, and public art. The focal point of this exhibition is to inspect the ways in which stone sculptors apply old techniques, materials, and ideas to transform stone sculptures into works that express Taiwan craft with both local and international aesthetics while taking artistic action and economic needs into account.
Stone sculptures, created after 1980 by a group of 56 artists, including local Taiwanese stone sculptors and foreign artists from international stone sculpture workshops are displayed in this exhibition. We hope to present the creative energy and trajectory of contemporary stone sculpture through the theme “Lei (磊, a Chinese character composed of three 石, the character for stone).” By understanding and integrating the development of Taiwan stone art, group images of stone craft, and innovative results, this exhibition also aims to explore contemporary stone art through 4 sub-themes “The Rolling Stone: Innovative Creation” “New Land: The Changing Creation Environment,” “In Pursuit of Dreams: The Innovative Energy of Young Generation,” and “Stone Arena: New Uses of Old Materials.” We hope to explore the aesthetics and expressions in the living craft of contemporary stone sculpture, artworks, and public art to reflect on the meaning of contemporary stone art and multivariate development possibilities.