Artwork Description

Title:Vigorous

Artist
Liu Chang

Date
2018

Medium:
Bronze Sculpture

Dimensions
22.8 x 7.1 x 17.7 in (58 × 18 × 45 cm)

1. Artwork Identification
Vigorous is an elegant bronze sculpture by emerging Chinese artist Liu Chang, portraying a proud and muscular horse in mid-stride. Cast in a naturalistic pose, the work captures the animal’s poised vitality and physical grandeur with finely modelled musculature and classical proportions. The patina presents an earthy greenish-brown hue, highlighting both anatomical precision and timeless aesthetic. The sculpture’s dynamic posture and expressive detailing evoke the strength and spirit for which the horse has long been celebrated in Chinese art and mythology.

2. Artistic Style and Influences
Trained in both traditional and contemporary sculpture practices, Liu Chang blends academic realism with a modern sensitivity to movement and form. While his work often explores kinetic expression and installation, Vigorous reflects his grounding in figural naturalism and classical sculptural language. Influences from Tang dynasty horse statuary and European equestrian bronzes are subtly evident in the work’s compositional grace and anatomical emphasis, while his contemporary finesse brings freshness to a time-honored subject.

3. Historical Context
Born in Wuhan in 1995, Liu Chang is part of a new generation of Chinese sculptors navigating the intersection between historical tradition and forward-looking innovation. His graduation from the Central Academy of Fine Arts in 2021 places him within the lineage of China’s premier art institutions. Vigorous, created in 2018 during his formative years, reflects both the discipline of academic training and the vitality of an artist emerging in a dynamic post-reform Chinese art scene. The horse, long a symbol of imperial power and cultural nobility in Chinese iconography, here becomes a metaphor for personal and artistic momentum.

4. Provenance
Provenance documentation can be provided upon contact.

5. Condition and Conservation
The sculpture is in very good condition, with a consistent surface patina and no structural or cosmetic damage noted. The casting is crisp, and the bronze surface has been well-preserved with no signs of oxidation or restoration. It is ready for display and long-term conservation.

6. Artistic Significance
Vigorous exemplifies Liu Chang’s dual mastery of classical sculptural form and contemporary sensibility. As a work of early maturity, it demonstrates his ability to channel deep cultural symbolism into works of dynamic presence. For collectors and institutions interested in supporting the next generation of Chinese sculptors, this piece offers both aesthetic excellence and investment potential. Its timeless subject and refined execution mark it as a distinguished contribution to contemporary Chinese bronze sculpture.