SHANG KUAN DING YA

SPACE 1

Exhibition dates : 19 - 31 May 2026
Opening reception : Wed 20 May 2026, 6:00 - 8:30pm

As human beings, our bodies are fundamental to how we understand existence. Through this form, we translate ideas into tangible reality. Beyond labor, the body is also a starting point for exploring beauty, deeply embedded in artistic practices. Historically, disciplines such as ancient Greek sculpture even required dance training to better understand bodily movement.

My own engagement with the body comes through traditional Chinese martial arts, not as combat, but as a study of transitions between movement and stillness. Concepts like twisting and extension are internalized through practice, becoming part of muscle memory rather than remaining purely intellectual.

Working with clay feels like an extension of the body. Its elasticity and responsiveness mirror physical motion, allowing me to express sensations that are otherwise invisible. Once fired, clay captures a fleeting moment in a fixed state. Yet when multiple forms are arranged together, they reintroduce a sense of continuity, evoking movement through stillness and reflecting the lived experience of the body.

Shang Kuan Ding Ya (Andrew) is an artist dedicated to sculptural ceramics and experimental processes. He holds a Bachelor of New Media Arts from Taipei University of the Arts. His practice investigates form, movement, and material expression through hand-building techniques.