As one of the earliest modern sculptors in China, Liu Shiming (1926-2010) established his own artistic characteristics and values by deep-diving into China’s local cultural resources, including the contemporary borrowing of traditional artistic techniques and Chinese cultural symbols, as well as the revelation of and reflection on contemporary social life. In recent years, the distinctive national characteristics and humanistic spirit embodied in Liu’s works have attracted the attention and sparked discussions in various cultural contexts, thereby creating new research perspectives to broaden the path of development for Chinese modern sculpture.
Exhibition viewThis exhibition features more than 80 sculptures selected from Liu’s 60-year career, 27 of which are on display in the United States for the first time. Liu’s works express the joys and sorrows of ordinary labourers during changing times. In his artistic creation, he employs the expressive techniques of traditional national sculpture to give vivid emotions to his modern realist works. The exhibition also features 12 paintings by Liu, which reveal his research methodology of close observation of the human form and daily life.
Richard Siggillino, Director of Mason Gross Galleries and curator of the exhibition, at the exhibition opening
Richard Siggillino, the curator of this exhibition, is the Director of Mason Gross Galleries. Speaking about the theme of the exhibition, Siggillino shared his understanding of Liu’s creation and life experience. “When I learned about Liu’s artistic and life journey, I was particularly impressed that, although many of his works were completed swiftly, the process of constructing them was gradual and calm. There are many different artistic elements in his life that have influenced the creation of his sculptures. The inspiration for the titles of Liu’s works focuses on his real experiences, and the infusion of real emotion is itself a sublime aesthetic pursuit.”
 |
Geoffrey M. Glick, Co-Chair of the Advisory Board of the Liu Shiming Art Foundation, at the opening of the exhibition
At the opening, Geoffrey M. Glick, Co-Chair of the Advisory Board of the Liu Shiming Art Foundation, commented that this was a complete dialogue between traditional Chinese sculpture and the contemporary art world. Liu’s sculptures resonated with people from different countries and cultures around the world. He believed that the exhibition, which attracted many local New Jersey art instructors and students, shall be an opportunity to inspire students to create. The Liu Shiming Art Foundation has a strong educational component, and since its founding in 2021, it has been dedicated to encouraging and supporting art students and emerging artists in their cultural studies. This was one of the reasons why the retrospective of Liu Shiming’s sculptural art was held at Rutgers University.
 |
Joanna Freedman, major in urban planning, sharing her feelings about the exhibition at the venue
This retrospective of Liu’s sculptures received numerous students in New Jersey as the audience. They said that they had never seen this form of sculpture before and that the sculptures were really cool and unique. They did not know much about Chinese culture before, and they saw so many vivid sculptures at this exhibition. The images that Liu carved out in clay were so dynamic and not static at all. The spanning range of themes of the works was very exciting. This exhibition was so important for students who had not been exposed to Eastern culture. Liu’s sculpture exhibition helped spread Eastern art here and unveil the mysterious Chinese culture.
Immediately after the opening ceremony, a panel discussion organised by the Department of Art and Design at Rutgers University was held. Jason Geary, Dean of the Mason Gross School of the Arts at Rutgers University, Marc Handelman, Associate Professor and Department Chair in the Mason Gross School of the Arts at Rutgers University, John Yau, Professor of Critical Studies in the Department of Art and Design, and Tamara Sears, Associate Professor of Art History, were invited to discuss the exhibition, and also Liu’s works and artistic legacy in a wide-ranging and multi-dimensional manner. The panel discussion was moderated by Fran Kaufman, Curator of the Foundation and Partner at KV Projects.
 |
Edited by｜CAFA ART INFO
Image and text courtesy of Liu Shiming Art Foundation
