The Noble Art of Pursuing Happiness: The Sculpture Work of Iutian Tsai

The value of art extends beyond its visual elements to awaken our senses to profound experiences—such are the deeply held beliefs of Taiwanese sculptor Iutian Tsai. His work pays homage to ancient East Asian philosophies, enabling his audiences to develop a connection to the natural world and the vast universe.

At the prestigious London Art Biennale in 2023, Tsai’s piece of contemporary sculpture, Galloping Ox, stood out amid a sea of nearly 80,000 artworks from around the globe. His piece earned him the esteemed International Confederation of Art Critics Award, with the sculpture’s powerful presence leaving art professionals and enthusiasts in awe.

Tsai’s inspiration for the piece emerged against the turbulent backdrop of 2021—the Year of the Ox—a time when the COVID-19 pandemic raged, economies faltered, and fear and anxiety gripped communities. Through his art, Tsai aimed to harness the ox’s symbolism to lift people’s spirits.

The essence of water and ink

Tsai’s artistic journey began with Chinese ink painting at Tunghai University where he studied under the guidance of renowned Taiwanese painter and author Chiang Hsun. After graduation, Tsai delved into crafting public art for his neighbourhood.

“My sculptures embody the fluidity of water, resembling a conductor’s graceful gestures or the changing seasons with its rhythmic flow,” he says.

Lao Tzu wrote in the Dao De Jing over 2,000 years ago, “The highest form of goodness is like water.” Water yields to everything, yet it can erode even the most solid rocks. Throughout Chinese history, water has carried profound philosophical connotations, which may explain why ancient Chinese scholars favoured water and ink as their mediums of artistic expression.

Ink, in turn, conveys an enduring pursuit of beauty and wisdom with its monochromatic yet elegant character. “Ink carries a profound philosophy and wisdom within it,” Tsai says.

As the artist’s delicate brush dips into the ink and alights upon the paper or silk, water permeates the fine fibres, which come to resemble tiny streams. The ink, as ethereal as smoke, embodies the essence of the pine from which it originates, finding its resting place along the path of water.

“This is why one must be in a state of ease when creating Chinese ink paintings,” Tsai says. “Go with the flow, let things unfold naturally, and your artwork will eloquently convey your state of being to the viewer.”

Whether in sculptures like Galloping Ox or Flow With the Spirit of Water, which earned him the Platinum A’ Design Award in Italy, Tsai’s creations exude the scholarly spirit of ancient China. They’re either elegant and poised or bold and vigorous. Displaying an array of intricate shapes and sizes, these works resemble calligraphic characters infused with so much energy that they seem to leap off the ground.

Tsai’s contemporary sculptures embody his carefree and unbridled spirit, seemingly liberated from the constraints of the mundane world. It’s as if the indomitable spirit of the ancient literati has been solidified into formidable steel, allowing viewers to perceive a tangible, three-dimensional manifestation of the powerful flow of water and the aura of ink.

Contemporary sculptures with ancient wisdom

Every time Tsai embarks on a new public art project, he poses a fundamental question to himself: “What kind of influence and meaning can a piece of public art bestow on those who surround it?” For instance, when he set out to create Flow With the Spirit of Water for a modern office building, his first thought was to consider the needs of the building’s thousands of employees.

This thought process had become a habit for Tsai. In his youth, he endured a gruelling three-hour daily commute to attend an art design academy. Even as a young observer, he noticed that the hurried adults rushing to their destinations appeared far from joyful or energetic as they began each new day. Instead, fatigue dominated their demeanour, sparking Tsai’s curiosity about why people often failed to lead happy lives.

Despite living in an era characterized by unprecedented material wealth and advanced technology, people appeared no happier or content; instead, they were more mentally strained and anxious. From birth, they were expected to excel in school, acquire degrees, secure jobs, and toil relentlessly to build successful careers. It was as if they were trapped in a world of steel and concrete that stealthily eroded the innocent joys of childhood.

“We devote a significant portion of our lives to education and endure the pressures of exams, all to pursue a promising career after graduation. But do these endeavours truly satisfy us? Plenty of millionaires don’t feel satisfied or even happy, so how much wealth must we accumulate before we find contentment?” Tsai says.

Through his art, he continued to seek answers to these fundamental questions. In the process, he delved into the writing or scriptures of great historical figures like Lao Tzu, Confucius, or the Buddha.

“Buddha’s teachings enabled me to see beyond this constructed reality and glimpse the true essence of things. Taoism has revealed to me the Way of the universe. Just like plants require water and sunlight to flourish, we mustn’t oppose this great Way, or we’ll encounter conflicts and hardships. Meanwhile, the ethical principles of Confucianism guide us to live harmoniously within the social order, preventing us from straying from our roles due to selfish desires,” Tsai says.

His philosophical and thoughtful approach is perhaps what has resulted in his serene mindset and led his contemporary sculptures to consistently win major international awards.

Connection with nature

According to Tsai, while modern education teaches people to establish themselves in the world, it falls short of imparting the skills needed to discover satisfaction and joy. However, when individuals transcend the world’s complexities and align their actions with the Tao, they naturally find happiness in the flow of life.

“Modern life has disconnected people from nature. Everything is artificial and lifeless. The simplest route to happiness is to immerse yourself in nature. The wind and water flow like lifeblood,” Tsai says.

As an integral part of nature, our bodies are connected to the natural world and sustained by every facet of its cycle. “That’s why, when you venture into nature, feel the breeze, and savour the fragrance of flowers and grass, you’ll begin to feel better without even realizing it.”

In response to the absence of nature in modern office buildings, Tsai strives to address this deficiency through his public sculptures. In a sense, the resulting contemporary sculptures serve as a portal to another realm, enabling individuals to resonate with nature and the cosmos. Those who encounter his sculptures may just feel a surge of energy as they momentarily break free from the world of metal and concrete to experience relief and satisfaction.

A universal language

In 2023, Tsai presented a solo exhibition titled In the Flow of the Spirit at Artexpo New York, where he received the “Best Sculpture” award.

A young woman and her friend joyfully conversed during the exhibition as they explored the artwork. When they saw the piece Flow with the Spirit of Water, the young woman suddenly burst into tears. She confided to Tsai that while she had also cried amid the ancient ruins of Greece and Egypt, this marked the first time a piece of contemporary sculpture had moved her so deeply. Little did she know that Tsai’s work also drew from the wisdom of ancient civilizations.

At that moment, a bridge spanning millennia and cultures must have formed, touching her heart in a profound manner. That is the power of art that continues to move people across time and space.