The Sea of the Mind – Ceramics by Tang Kuo-Liang American Cultural Center March 10 - June 15, 2001

PR0108E | Date: 2001-03-13

The American Cultural Center will present in its lobby display cases an exhibition titled “The Sea of the Mind – Ceramics by Tang Kuo-liang,” March 10 through June 15, 2001.

The American Cultural Center lobby is open to the public from 9 a.m. until 6 p.m. Mondays through Fridays, and noon until 6 p.m. on Saturdays. It is closed Sundays and holidays. The American Cultural Center is located at 54 Nan Hai Road, Taipei.

Tang Kuo-liang graduated from the Sculpture Department of the National Academy of the Arts in 1979. He has established a studio and has been devoted to the creation of ceramic works for about twenty years. He has also had various exhibitions in Taiwan and abroad. Tang recently moved his studio and residence to the mountain of San-Zi county, outside of Taipei City, where he can enjoy natural scenery, breathe fresh air and think about his artworks while looking at the sea nearby. The exhibition “The Sea of the Mind” will present Tang’s latest works on the subject of sea, and in forms transformed from seashells and sea creatures. With magical changes of clay and glaze, Tang wishes to give new interpretations to the sea that he observes all the time. The seashell has therefore become the language of his comments on the subject.

The “Music of the Sea” series is created according to the traditional old clay musical instrument – the Xun, which dates back to pre-history. In the form of the seashell, Tang recreates and re-interprets this traditional clay instrument. In addition, he wishes to disclose the stability and strength of the sea via the low tone and unique sound of the Xun. The sound of the Xun is similar to the sound of the univalve, therefore, it can play a harmonious tone with the natural music of the sea. Tang would like to represent the old clay instrument in his artworks, and recall the public’s interest in that unique ancient music.

The “Tides” series focuses on the richness and beauty of the glaze. Tang captures the colors of golden sunshine on the surface of the sea, as well as the unpredictable impact of the tides on these works. The forms of this series are abstract, simple and sophisticated, all at the same time. Another, the “Source” series, is a continuation of what Tang has done in the past years, between ceramic and sculpture. The works of this series emphasize the positions of forms and new methods of compositions and therefore present distinguishing volume and texture.

The “Carefree” series, however, shows a rambling mind in the process of creating. Tang works very freely when molding the clay and cutting and composing the forms. Therefore, the works reflect free-wheeling comments of the artist on forms and aesthetics.

The making of ceramics is an ancient craft skill, and is also an important part of Chinese culture. Traditionally, ceramics have been considered useful vessels, and began to develop into a media for contemporary art in the mid-1950s. The versatility and freedom of contemporary ceramic artists have created various marvelous artworks within the last half-century. These works display the infinite possibilities of this media in contemporary art. Tang Kuo-liang’s works are among these examples.