Born in Chiayi, Taiwan in 1956, Wu Ching honed his skills through self-teaching. As a young man, he was deeply inspired by a visit to the National Palace Museum in Taipei, where the exquisite treasures left a lasting impression. Wu decided that he would create fine wood-carving art someday. After years of observation and study, Wu finally gained recognition with his debut solo exhibition on wood-carved ants at the Taipei Fine Art Museum in 1984. Soon after, he was invited to showcase his creations in Japan, where he started gaining international acclaim.
Rising to Prominence Wooden Sculptures
Wu Ching’s exquisite wood carvings not only demonstrate the vividness of nature but also reflect his insights o life from 1985 to 1994. Blending Taoist aesthetics with Buddhist principles, the artist’s works reflect one’s spiritual growth from contemplation and ascension to enlightenment. During this period, Wu created innovative masterpieces such as Dream Butterfly, Man or Butterfly, Voidness, Arising and Ceasing, Mingling of Joy and Sorrow, and Bliss of Dharma.
H26 × W23 × D49 cm
1994-1996
Glorious gold sculptures Golden Sculptures
silver 80 kg H120 × W38 × D280 cm
1990-1993
In pursuit of diversity and value, the artist used pure gold to make his art. Starting in 1989, Wu has led the trend of gold sculpture art in Taiwan and achieved multiple milestones. His Endless Blessings was acquired by the National Palace Museum in Taipei in 1993. This makes him the first living creator to have work included in the museum’s collection. In 2007, Wu was commissioned by the National Center for Traditional Arts to make Hometown Affection (also known as Life Continues) with 15kg of pure gold. In 2010, the China Marine Museum invited Wu to make a replica of a large-sized gold sculpture, Eastern Wu’s Great Wing Warship, which was the first pure-gold artifact ever made in history.
H420 × W420 × D280 cm
2007
Transcendence of agarwood Agarwood
The artist combines rare agarwood, a gem of nature shaped by the passage of time, with fine gold sculpture. He initiated the Mystical Fragrance in Divine Realms series in 2017, blending landscapes, cultural scenes, and meditative practices into his work. These creations invite appreciation through micro-perspectives, visualization, and Zen contemplation for a deeper understanding of their artistic progression.
