Zhu Ming (Ju Ming)

Please note the correct estimate for this lot is $100,000-150,000.

I have a dumb method of forcing out the true self and it is speed.  As soon as I start to sculpt, I don’t stop…one may say that I am in a state of mind wherein both self and (conscious) will are abandoned -Ju Ming

The pioneering works from Zhu Ming’s Taiji and Living World series expresss a repertoire of sculptural mastery uniquely the artist’s.   Begun by Zhu Ming in the late 1970’s, the Taiji series was inspired by his own practice of the ancient Chinese martial art. His growing awareness of the unity between body and natural space through martial art forms resulted in sculptures that won international recognition, beginning first in Japan in the late 1970’s, and then in the United States in the 1980’s, where his first exhibition at New York’s Max Hutchinson Gallery was a critical success.

The two bronze figures executed in 1984 (Lots 119 and 120) show the artist’s deep understanding of the basic principles of balance and proportion; each figure is firmly rooted in its footwork, but the bold, rhythmic diagonals that cut across the lower and upper bodies charge each one with an energy and springy dynamism that perfectly captures the nature of the figure’s activity.  Lot 119 is a figure that slowly, deliberately extends forward, a contrast to the light, whip-like motion embodied by Lot 120.  A pair of bronze Tajii figures (1995, Lot 121) represents Zhu’s mature style and exhibits his mastery of the bronze medium.  The surfaces are smoother and rounded but still charged with energy, while subtle motions are captured within the forms.  Although moderate in size, these sculptures resonate with energy and grandeur on a monumental scale.

Zhu Ming’s Living World series, developed in the late 1980’s, was inspired by the intimacy of human experiences and the desire to find an outlet for expressing the routines and passions of everyday life.  Through Living World, Zhu Ming also sought a means of breaking away from the Taiji theme.  The subjects of the series include figures playing sports, businessmen, gymnasts, and people from everyday life.  Zhu’s painted sculpture of a young girl (2004, Lot 122) depicts a young girl sitting quietly with her hands folded on her lap and head slightly lowered, looking quietly off into the distance.  She is roughly carved, quickly painted, and directly expressive in a simple, unmannered way – as though made by the artist’s “dumb method” of forcing out his unbridled ideas quickly.  Nevertheless, the work shows an appreciation for the natural character and properties of the wood, borne of long study and experience as a sculptor, and the simple vigor of the uneven carved surfaces originates from a nativist tradition. 

Zhu Ming’s Stories of the Skirt’s series (2006, Lot 123) expresses the artist’s fascination with a woman’s whimsical swinging skirt.  This series consists of 20 painted bronze sculptures, each in an edition of eight.  In the example on offer, the seated figure wears only a bright yellow skirt that is hoisted high, exposing her slender legs coquettishly.  Her bright yellow headdress draws attention to her backward tilting head, but she is balanced by her heavy folded skirt. This delightful series shows the artist’s lighter side and provides a charming contrast to the monumentality and gravitas of his best known work.