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.