Ju MingS t a r t i n g i n t h e f a l l o f 2 0 0 6

in Montréal

The elegant movementsof Tai Chi take shape inbronze giants

These giants to some respect exem-

plify the manner in which the body

expresses the cosmic movements

inherent to Tai Chi. Nature-

a consistently recurring theme in

Asian art-expresses itself in

Ju Ming's work through human

movement and the vital energy such

movement represents. In China,

sculpture is only publicly exhibited

in the form of religious art. Ju Ming,

a proponent of quasi-representational

art, has developed a modern and

streamlined vocabulary for his

medium. He has formulated a

universal body of work through his

ability to present the various flows

of life using powerful and archetypal

figures. His work of the 1980s

already depicted characters of

different cultures and backgrounds,

tending to immortalize them within

the essence of their activities.

By combining the monumental

presence of figures with fluidity

of movement, Ju Ming's sculpture

provides a simultaneously poetic

and rigorous rendition of nature

and of humankind.

Ju Ming's Tai Chi exhibit, which began in the fall of

2006, represents a joint undertaking by the Ville de

Montréal, the Quartier international de Montréal and

the Quays of the Old Port. This exhibit is part of an

initiative by François Odermatt and benefits from

the financial support of Power Corporation of Canada

and of Integro Insurance Brokers.

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Ju Ming's work is on display at:1. Lac aux Castors in the parc du Mont-Royal Take No. 11 bus from Mont-Royal Or Take No. 165 or No. 535 bus from

Côte-des-Neiges and transfer to No. 11 bus

2. Quartier international de MontréalSquare-Victoria

3. Quays of the Old Port Place-d'Armes

Quartier internationalTai Chi Single Whip1985 Tai Chi Shadow Boxing1983

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ville.montreal.qc.ca/culture

After Berlin, Brussels,Paris and Singapore-Ju Ming in Montréal

Montréal has been the host of a set

of 19 sculptures by Taiwanese artist

Ju Ming since the fall of 2006. Taken

from his Tai Chi series, these works

will be presented in three key loca-

tions: on mont Royal, an excellent

setting for relaxation and contempla-

tion, in the city's Quartier interna-

tional, where sculptures already

form a part of the urban landscape

and along the Quays of the Old Port,

an environment marked by history

and a favourite haunt of tourists.

This magnificent, temporary exhibit

was born out of joint undertaking

by the Ville de

Montréal,

the Quays of

the Old Port and

the Quartier

international

de Montréal.

Ju Ming: work that forms part of a time-honoured tradition

Ju Ming was born in Taiwan in 1938 and is recognized

as one of Asia's great modern artists. Tai Chi has been

publicly presented in many venues, including Brussels's

Place de l'Europe, Berlin's Brandenburg Gate,

Luxembourg's Place du Casino and Paris's Place

Vendôme. Ju Ming's work, which has also been shown

in many of Japan's museums and natural sites, in the

United States and in the United Kingdom, constitutes

one of the world's great art collections.

Ju Ming's professional development may offer a guiding

light to other artists. After working for many years as

the disciple of a master of Buddhist statuary works,

Ju Ming began studying Chinese painting, which he

believed was crucial to a greater command of sculpture.

While contemporary in style, Ju Ming's art splendidly

reflects its ancient Asian roots, particularly in terms of

the topics he covers. This principle particularly applies

in his treatment of the human figure. Ju Ming's work is,

in this respect, part of a time-honoured tradition that

includes animal figurines formed in jade or Neolithic

marble, terracotta soldiers from the 3rd century B.C.

and monumental religious sculptures formed in

the 7th century A.D.

Drawing on the roots of Chinese culture

By taking his cue from Tai Chi's mystical

realm, the artist sculpts larger-than-life

bronze figures. Ju Ming generates a sense

of movement and energy by making rough-

hewn cuts directly into solid blocks of

material.

While the

artist's style

evokes a sense

of stylized

Western real-

ism (similar in

some respects

to Construc-

tivism and

Cubism),

the philosophy underlying his work dates

back to the roots of Chinese culture.

That is because Ju Ming's art transcends

its subject by extracting the very essence

of nature and of humankind from it.

By adapting the movements of Tai Chi-

a bodily and spiritual exercise of great

importance in many Eastern cultures-

to bronze, the artist demonstrates great

mastery of his medium and an intimate

knowledge of its potential.

Quays of the Old Port General View

Quartier internationalTai Chi Single Whip1985

Mont RoyalArch of Well-Being1996

Quays of the Old Port (foreground)Tai Chi Arch 1986

Cover:Mont RoyalSpin Kick

Mont Royal