Contemporary Asian Sculptures

In recent decades, contemporary Asian artists and collectors have developed some of the most rapidly growing art markets in the world, particularly in sculpture. The development of China’s economy in particular has coincided with an increased demand for modern Asian sculpture, which tends to be experimental in nature and profound in scope. Artists have responded to this demand by creating a variety of well regarded and highly collectible sculptural art.

Early shows of Chinese sculpture in the 1970s and '80s were held not in galleries, but in embassies and the homes of officials, as high profile individuals were among the most fervent of art collectors. Today, some sculptors like Huang Yulong and Liu Jianhua partner with multinational corporations and museums to interact with viewers on a global scale. Alternatively, artists like Ai Weiwei use their work to voice opinions critical of the current state of China. Many artists work in a variety of mediums, hopping from installations to sculpture, architecture, multimedia work, and paintings.

In Japan, the influence of modern Western ideas about form and abstraction have been felt since the end of World War II. In the 20th century, the rise of the Mono-ha school saw more artists creating ephemeral sculptures contrasting the industrial and natural worlds. Works like Nobuo Sekine's "Phase: Mother Earth" operate like a thought experiment, designed to show how two abstracted states of material can be codependent on what they are, and what they become.

Quick Facts

• South Korean Artist Yoo Young-ho is renowned for his "Greetingman" sculptural project. This project has installed a colossal abstracted male figure in key places throughout the world to promote peace
• Chinese artist Liu Jianhua, once a social artist focusing on issues surrounding China’s economy, transitioned in the 20th century to a new style. It is seen in his work "Untitled," in which he aims for "no meaning, no content"
• In addition to a tradition of modern art in Korea, some artists still work in the longstanding tradition of Buddhist sculpture that has existed within the country for over a millennium. The Seated Buddha of Seoraksan, for example, was created in the 20th century