Asia Art Center began formally representing the estate of Yuyu Yang (1926–1997) in 2024 and has since actively promoted the legacy of this influential postwar Taiwanese artist through comprehensive exhibitions and research. Following last year's bronze-focused exhibition Spirit of the Mountains, the gallery is pleased to present Contemplating Form, Yang's third solo exhibition at Asia Art Center, centering on his pivotal transition to stainless steel. Employing minimalist abstract forms, reflective surfaces, and dynamic spatial compositions, the exhibition underscores the artist’s concept of "Lifescape Sculpture"—an integration of sculpture, nature, and spiritual contemplation.
The exhibition title, Contemplating Form, gestures toward the generative relationship between observation and form in Eastern philosophy. Yang’s shift from stone and bronze to stainless steel in the early 1980s signified not merely a change in materials but a transformative approach to sculpture's relationship with space and perception. Through the mirrored surface of stainless steel, his works dissolve the boundary between object and environment. As Yang himself stated, "My work has expanded to create a larger environment and to address the issue of larger spatial relationships." These sculptures embody that vision in tangible form.
The exhibition features All for the Public as its central visual motif. Featuring a polished, upright form, the sculpture mirrors the viewer and the surrounding environment, encapsulating a refined vision of collective spirit. Around it, a perceptual space subtly emerges—not physically but through reflective engagement—revealing what Yang called the essence of "Lifescape Sculpture." Other major works include Balance & Harmony, a monumental stainless steel structure resembling a mountain, evoking both cyclical energy and Confucian ideals of virtue; and Advent of the Phoenix IV, which captures the dynamic essence of a mythic bird in flight, its mirrored surface refracting the interplay of sky and light. The phoenix, a recurring motif throughout Yang’s artistic journey, finds contemporary resonance here, symbolizing transcendence and cultural memory.
Contemplating Form brings together eight stainless steel sculptures created between the 1980s and 1990s—a period marked by the artist’s philosophical maturation. These sculptures transcend mere materiality and form, entering a realm of philosophical exploration. Through refined structures and mirrored reflections, Yang invites viewers into acts of perception, introspection, and spatial dialogue. This kind of entry unfolds on multiple levels—visual, psychological, and philosophical. "Contemplating Form" is not merely about observation; it is a shared condition of seeing and being seen.
