Eric HSUEH

Gold Prize

On my artistic journey, I use sculpture to explore the subtle tension between strength and fragility. Rooted in the cultural background of Taiwan, my work integrates the spirit of Chinese ink painting with the formal language of Western sculpture, creating forms that embody both primal vitality and quiet resilience, while opening a cross-cultural dialogue.
Material is central to my practice. I primarily work with stainless steel, a medium that carries industrial hardness yet allows for refinement and sensitivity. Through cutting, bending, and polishing, I transform steel into dynamic sculptural gestures shaped by time, energy, and movement. The reflective surfaces interact with light, space, and the viewer, blurring the boundaries between presence and absence, solidity and ephemerality—echoing the expressive quality of ink brushstrokes translated into three-dimensional form.
My work is deeply influenced by Eastern philosophy, particularly Taoist and Zen concepts of balance, impermanence, and coexistence. I see strength and fragility not as opposites, but as interdependent forces. This understanding informs both my creative process and the finished works, where physical intensity coexists with inner stillness. The act of making often becomes a meditative practice, reflecting on resilience, transformation, and harmony within life.
The Inkform series embodies this philosophy. Inspired by the spontaneity of ink painting and grounded in the sharp precision of steel, the works form a bridge between East and West, tradition and innovation. Each sculpture functions not only as an object, but as a medium that invites contemplation and emotional resonance.
Through international exhibitions and competitions, I aim to bring Taiwan’s cultural perspective into a global context, aspiring for my works to enter public spaces where art transcends personal expression and becomes a shared symbol of strength, memory, and hope across cultures.