Musée Cernuschi Acquires Li Chen's "Pure Land"

Musée Cernuschi (Museum of Asian Arts, Paris) acquired Li Chen's 1998 sculpture Pure Land (84 x 28 x 48 cm), making it one of the very few contemporary sculptures specially selected for the museum's collection. Following the acquisition, curator Mael Bellec visited the artist in Taiwan and described Pure Land as a work whose rounded form and weightless posture evoke a sense of levitation.”

Founded in 1898, the Musée Cernuschi remains one of the few European institutions devoted to both traditional and contemporary Asian art. For over a century, it has played a pioneering role in reshaping the perception of Asian art in Europe—moving beyond the 19th-century lens of Orientalism to foster authentic cross-cultural dialogue. Through its exhibitions and educational programs, the museum continues to highlight the interplay between Asia’s rich artistic heritage and its modern creative vitality. Today, the museum houses a collection of over 15,000 works of art.

The museum's founder, Henri Cernuschi (1812–1896), was an Italian-born economist, banker, and collector who actively participated in the Milan Revolution of 1848. Following his exile, he settled in Paris, where he achieved great success in finance. Between 1871 and 1873, Cernuschi embarked on an extensive journey across Asia, visiting Japan, China, Hong Kong, and Vietnam, and acquiring approximately 5,000 works, including Chinese bronzes, Buddhist sculptures, and Japanese paintings and ceramics.

Upon his return, his collection immediately drew scholarly attention and became instrumental in advancing the study of early Chinese art in France. After his death in 1896, Cernuschi bequeathed his residence and collection to the City of Paris. In 1898, his home and its treasures were transformed into the Musée Cernuschi, establishing one of Europe's earliest public institutions dedicated to Asian arts.

Following Li Chen's receipt of the American Friends of Museums in Israel's Outstanding Achievements in the Sculptural Arts Award in 2024—becoming the first Asian sculptor to earn this honor—his signature ink-black sculptures, imbued with a distinct sense of Eastern spirit and poise, continue to garner significant recognition across major international art institutions.