National Taiwan Museum of Fine Arts Acquires Zhu Ming's 'Cross Hands' Sculpture

The National Taiwan Museum of Fine Arts has acquired Zhu Ming's "Tai Chi Series - Cross Hands," a significant addition to its collection. The sculpture, created in 1985 during the mature phase of Zhu Ming's "Tai Chi" series, was purchased through a special government program for acquiring important Taiwanese artworks. It will be permanently displayed at the museum's main entrance.

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Cross Hands, with its slightly raised arms and outward extension, appears to have no strong movement, yet the body's full strength is concentrated in the stillness, perfectly presenting Zhu Ming's creation of 'combining hardness and softness, and generating movement from stillness.'

Museum director Chen Hsiang-yi explained that "Cross Hands" embodies Zhu Ming's artistic philosophy of "combining hardness and softness, and generating movement from stillness." While many of Zhu Ming's works feature dynamic poses, this piece captures a moment of contained energy. Chen noted that the sculpture's seemingly quiet posture, with slightly raised arms and an outward extension, actually concentrates the body's full strength into a static instant, showcasing a different facet of the artist's exploration of power and balance.

Zhu Ming is an internationally renowned sculptor, often the first Taiwanese artist mentioned by international art enthusiasts. Chen Hsiang-yi recognized that the museum's outdoor sculpture park, while housing works by other major artists, notably lacked a representative piece by Zhu Ming. The acquisition aims to rectify this, filling a crucial gap in the museum's collection and acknowledging the artist's global stature. Unlike other Zhu Ming sculptures located elsewhere in Taiwan that display more expansive movements, "Cross Hands" offers a more intimate encounter with the artist's "Tai Chi" concepts, allowing viewers to appreciate the subtle yet potent tension within its restrained form.

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When I studied in France, Zhu Ming was often the familiar name mentioned by locals when talking about Taiwanese artists.

The museum plans to enhance the visitor experience with guided tours, seminars, and educational activities. An updated outdoor sculpture map will also be provided to help audiences explore the park's collection and understand the development of modern Taiwanese sculpture. This initiative aims to deepen public engagement with the artwork and the broader context of Taiwanese art history.

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The museum's outdoor sculpture park has collected large-scale works by many important artists, but it previously lacked a representative sculpture by Zhu Ming, so I felt it was a corner of the collection that urgently needed to be filled after I took office.