Design & Inspiration

Interview with Jason Shih | An Award-Winning Metal Sculptor with Artistic Visions

Interview with Jason Shih | An Award-Winning Metal Sculptor with Artistic Visions

Jason Shih

Jason Shih is an award-winning sculptor from Taiwan, specialising in metal sculpture. At the inception of his career, he had the privilege to serve as the metal sculptor Albert Paley's assistant while involved in crafts and public artwork practices. His artistic vision is shaped by a diverse array of influences, from contemporary dance to avant-garde fashion. For Jason, art creation is about sharing various moods and stories in daily life.

I'm Jason Shih from Taiwan. Was born there in 1972, then in 1991 I began my artistic journey specialising in metal sculpture when I was a sophomore in the Fine Arts Dept. of Taipei National University of the Arts. After graduating majoring in Metal Sculpture, I served as an assistant to the renowned metal sculptor Albert Paley while involved in crafts and public artwork practices.

I even got my Art Ph.D from the China Academy of Art, China in 2015. Currently, I'm living in Taiwan and consistently engaging in both areas of sculpture and public arts. Most of my artistic vision is shaped by a diverse array of influences, ranging from contemporary dance to avant-garde fashion.

My works are also influenced by the aesthetic principles of Futurism and Constructivism, movements that emphasise dynamic energy and continuous motion. You can see these influences in my sculptures which often depict movements, moments of defying gravity, capturing the fleet of the beauty of motion in a static form.

I want to share the various moods and stories of daily life with my creations.

As a professional sculptor, I like to experience the taste of life with perceptual observation in the subtle moments, and also like the ever-changing situation of game shapes in the poetic imaginary space. For me, art creation is to share various moods and stories in daily life.

Humanistic thinking is derived from Eastern sentiments or oriental trends. I'm fairly skilled at translating the aesthetic insights in daily life into profound and timeless elements, gathering pure energy in concise and concise words. Hence you can see what I do mostly would adopt a simplified aesthetic that uses simplicity to control complexity.

Design is to solve problems skillfully and solve problems perfectly.

Originality and inspiration.

Good design allows us to experience fun and be full of imagination about life.

Poetic imagination, the dynamics of light and shadow, and the rhythm of volume.

As far as artists are concerned, I admire German choreographer Pina Bausch(1940-2009) and British costume designer Alexander McQueen(1969-2010). The former's contemporary humanistic and profound concepts of time and space inspired me to understand sculpture's ability to display kinetic energy and imagination in space. The latter gives me a freer and broader inspiration for the interpretation of contemporary images or themes.

Definitely has an impact on my designs, as I've mentioned that humanistic thinking is derived from Eastern sentiments or oriental trends.

Thank you for the awards! Winning this award is going to further elevate my portfolio on my artistic journey.

I've had many challenges but no matter what kind of task I'm given, I will focus on it and do it perfectly.

Winning this award would elevate my career and put me even more into the international limelight.

Favourite thing in design would be the perfect implementation of things in a scientific, kind, and artistic way.

I've got originality and inspiration in my designs.

Design originates from humanistic needs. It comes from people and will be used by people.

I suggest that young designers should be brave enough to try new things in life and artistic expression methods.

I'm inspired by the kinetic energy or dynamics from the aesthetic context of Futurism (1909-) and Constructivism (1917-). The speed and continuous movement displayed by the kinetic energy of nature and animals are often full of charming energy images. Additionally, the beauty of dynamic energy itself can be interpreted in a restrained and elegant manner at the moment of defying gravity, flying in the air, and sliding.

Focus on perfection. Meanwhile, stay open to curiosity.

Winning Entries

Read about the interview with Studio O&E, Designers of the Linx | Enhancing Cross-Disciplinary Communications here.

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