There are many painting artists originated
from Chiayi, therefore, Chiayi has been recognized
as “city of painting”. Also, Chiayi is the hometown
of colored pottery, the so-called “consummate skill”,
which shares recognizable reputation in Taiwan .
Recently, Chiayi has discovered a new trait that
is stone monkey, which is sculptured with various
shellfish fossils from Pachong River . All of the
stone sculptures look alive. Taochen stone monkeys
represent Chiayi, which is the honor of Chiayi folks.
Chiayi is the hometown of stone monkey. There have
been 60 years of history for the artists to create
art works with stone monkeys. These art creators
use all kinds of shellfish fossils originating from
Pachong River , making impossible into miracle, who
turn the plain original stones and fossils into unique
arts. Through their dexterous hands, these artists
sculptured the spirits, witty & elastic natures
of the monkeys on their works. They present the feature
of “returning to nature, revealing true affection”
in their works, which becomes the one and the only
trait of local trait – Chiayi stone monkeys.
Speaking of the history of the sculpture of Chiayi
stone monkey, we can't forget “Dragon master – Zhan
Long”. He was the one who first brought river stones
of Pachong River into the arts palace of sculpture,
innovating the creation fashions of Chiayi stone
monkeys. Zhan Long was born in Dasi street of Nanmen,
Chiayi city. Because he was imperceptibly influenced
by what he constantly sees and hears when he was
a child, he transferred from tomb stele work into
stone monkeys creation; and he even made creation
fashions a unique local trait of Chiayi. The glorious
time for Zhan Long started in 1973, because he used
a great quantity of shellfish fossils of Pachong
River as materials of sculpture, and with his skillful
sculpture techniques, his works are greatly accepted
by Japanese. The demands for his works are more than
creation. For this, more and more people join to
do stone monkeys creation.
What is the most valuable is that since Zhan Long,
the master of monkeys sculpture, most stone monkeys
creators never accept academic training, they are
called “Not Fancy Artists”. Persisting in enthusiasm
and self-exploration on stone monkeys creation, striving
for perfection, and consolidating the group of people's
endeavors and quiet contributions, these artists finally create some arts characteristic
of “stone monkeys world”.
Holding the mission of “managing art assets, standing out local traits”, the
Cultural Affairs Bureau of Chiayi City has begun to organize “outdoor creation
exhibition of Chiayi stone monkeys” staring 1998. The bureau invites these
“not fancy artists” creating works onsite, allowing the public to appreciate
how these “not fancy artists” turn the “stubborn stones” into witty and elastic
“stone monkeys”. Citizens can also better understand profound humanity features
of Chiayi.
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