Lee Su-jin

2012

Well

POST WINGS

Li Su-Zheng's "Chicken" is a peculiar creature sculpted from clay and glazed in colors that transcends realistic forms; it serves as a symbol of a chicken while also embodying a certain fantastical transformation. Its exaggerated wings, radiating lines, and striking color contrasts create an unsettling dynamic, as if this "chicken" is about to take flight, yet carries a sense of humor and absurdity. This approach gives the piece a childish charm while also imbuing it with a nearly expressionistic wild energy, challenging our preconceived notions of the chicken imagery.

On a technical level, Li Su-Zheng utilizes the fluidity of the glaze and the textural effects achieved through high-temperature firing, resulting in a surface that displays a rich gloss and variations in layers. The yellow body contrasting with black and red imbues this "chicken" with a certain visual tension reminiscent of a primitive totem. The depiction of the eyes is particularly striking; their round shape paired with the black-and-white contrast suggests a look of astonishment or playfulness, rendering the work not merely a static sculpture but a projection of emotion.

Li Su-Zheng's works often center around childlike whimsy and humanitarian concerns, and "Chicken" is no exception in this regard. This transformed chicken may metaphorically represent the resilience of life on Taiwanese soil, or humorously subvert traditional imagery. Through transformation and the use of glaze, the artist elevates this piece beyond a simple animal sculpture, transforming it into a work of art with symbolic meanings that opens up a dialog about life and reality, oscillating between absurdity and poetry.

None