Exhibition Period｜2017/10/25～11/13

Officially designated by the Ministry of Culture as a Preserver of Zaohua (Traditional Decorative Woodcarving Techniques), Master Artist Li Bing-gui was born in Lukang in 1949. The Li family stands as Taiwan’s most iconic lineage of traditional woodworkers. Their ancestors crossed the Taiwan Strait during the Daoguang Emperor's reign to participate in the restoration of the historic Lukang Longshan Temple. Settling in Lukang, the family has passed down their carpentry and carving traditions across six generations, effectively embodying the historical timeline of Taiwanese wood sculpture. Immersed in the world of traditional carving since childhood, Li has spent a lifetime mastering the rigorous technicality, composition, chiseling styles, and anatomy of his figures. Beyond inheriting his family's structural legacy, he expanded his horizons by studying Chinese calligraphy, ink painting, and traditional Confucian classics. This deep engagement with arts outside the workshop enriched his creative spirit, instilling his works with a profound traditional resonance and a refined, scholarly elegance—proving the beautiful synergy born when different creative disciplines interlace. Furthermore, Li possesses a remarkably unique philosophy regarding the art of decorative carving. He rejects the notion that the ornamental role of zaohua limits its subject matter or layout; rather, he views it as a creative pursuit of "seeking the infinite within the finite." His contemporary sculptures have completely shattered the conceptual constraints of the traditional "frame." No longer serving merely as architectural embellishments or furniture decorations to fill up blank space, his subjects are liberated to stand alone as independent masterpieces. Unattached to walls or cabinets, these open, freestanding works allow visitors to appreciate them from a 300-and-60-degree perspective, marveling at the microscopic precision of the woodcarving. This exhibition showcases a selection of Li Bing-gui’s fine furniture and timber sculptures. His furniture pieces prioritize absolute structural precision and the robustness of traditional mortise-and-tenon joints, while reflecting a sophisticated personal aesthetic and practical functionality. His sculptures focus on the legendary character portraits for which the Li family is famous, drawing inspiration from classical literature, historical epics, and Buddhist or Daoist deities. While honoring traditional iconographies, Li conducts deep research into historical archives to craft characters that are "both realistic and poetic," emphasizing an atmosphere of absolute purity (jing). Through this exhibition, visitors will discover that Li is one of modern Taiwan's rare multi-talented polymaths—mastering carving, calligraphy, and poetry alike—proving that the full scope of his genius far transcends the singular label of "woodcarver."

Performance Highlights