Sculpture

2001

Length:23.1 x Width:22.3 x Height:42.5 (cm)

Chen Ting-Shih (1913-2002, Changle, Fujian) was born into a literary family and trained from a young age in calligraphy, painting, and seal carving. During wartime upheaval in his youth, he adopted the pen name “Erh Shih” and produced hand-carved woodblock illustrations, which were printed directly onto publications. After relocating to Taiwan, Chen transitioned to modern printmaking and became a key figure in Taiwan’s contemporary art movement. He represented Taiwan in numerous international biennials and received first prize at the 1970 Korea International Print Biennale for his print Hibernation. In 1958, Chen co-founded the Modern Print Association with Lee Shi-Chi and Chiang Han-Tong, and actively participated in artist groups such as the Fifth Moon Group and the Modern Eye Art Society. In his later years, he turned to collecting scholar’s rocks and creating welded iron sculptures. His iconic piece Johnnie Walker was featured in the volume Masters of Iron and Space, securing his place in the global history of twentieth-century sculpture. Chen’s sculptures were typically assembled from discarded industrial materials, such as shipbreaking scrap metal, turbine blades, broken household items, and fragments of antique folk objects. Through cutting and welding, he transformed these rusted remnants into softened, abstract forms. The marks of age and use were not erased but recontextualized, becoming new visual symbols imbued with fresh life and aesthetic meaning.
Zen Insight is assembled from discarded industrial parts and cast iron. A circular gear rests atop a bent cast-iron plate, creating a deliberate contrast between the precision of manufactured components and the irregular, corroded texture of rusted metal. A curved industrial element inserted into the plate, in tandem with the gear, subtly suggests a humanoid form. The title, drawn from Buddhist terminology, opens the work to interpretive possibilities. It implies an inner awakening or meditative presence and hints at the figure-like character of the sculpture. Through this combination of materials and form, the artist invites contemplation of both the object and its metaphorical resonance.

Accession number:20170300074