SHIH Li-Jen

YuanBao Rhino | 犀利元寶

About SHIH Li-Jen | 藝術家介紹網頁

不銹鋼　470 x 180 x 220cm

元寶犀牛：包容山林，映照人心

　　嘉義梅山太平雲梯旁，一頭鏡面閃耀的犀牛靜靜佇立，與群山對望，與雲霧交談。牠並非山林的過客，而是與這片土地共呼吸的存在。山巒、天光、行人，盡皆映入牠溫潤的身軀，成為流動的風景，也映照每一位駐足者的心念。

　　由藝術家施力仁創作的《元寶犀牛》，造型圓潤穩重，如同中華文化中象徵福祿的元寶。這樣的元寶，並非僅是財富的象徵，還蘊含內斂而深遠的「富足觀」——包容萬物，涵養眾善。藝術家以「有容乃大」為創作核心，將東方哲思化為具體形象，使這尊犀牛承載著從容、寬厚與祝福的力量。

　　整體造型中最鮮明的語彙是那昂首向天的犀角。藝術家將拇指象徵性的轉化為角的姿態，傳達肯定、希望與昂然之氣。角上保留了金屬紋理如指紋的細節，在陽光照射下，光斑與旋紋映於地面，似在訴說每個生命皆有其獨特位置與價值。

　　支撐整體的四肢，則轉化為雙鼎結構，延續自古以來「鼎」所代表的穩重與承載。在古代文化中，鼎象徵制度、文化與穩定，藝術家透過造型簡化與形式轉譯，將其與動物的身形融合，使這頭犀牛不僅是生靈，也如文化根基般穩固，長立於山巒之上。

　　不鏽鋼所帶來的反射特性，讓這尊作品具有開放與互動的特質。不同光線、天氣、角度皆會改變牠的樣貌，也讓每一位觀者的倒影成為作品的一部分。視覺的折射展現出東方美學中「虛而不空、實中有靈」的回應。

　　　　從側面觀察，犀牛背上的起伏形勢如嶺如峰，呼應台灣山林地貌的曲折有致。這樣的造型，像是地景意識的延伸——作品與地貌連動，如雲梯與山谷之間的對話，也是藝術與自然相映的實踐。

在快速變動的時代中，《元寶犀牛》選擇靜默守候。它不張揚、不喧嘩，而是以溫厚姿態迎接每位來訪者。當你在太平雲梯邊與牠相遇，也許能在牠的鏡面上，看見山色、看見自己，也看見與土地相連的心情與記憶。

　　這尊作品看似簡約，實則蘊藏精湛工藝與複雜製程。從最初的泥塑構思開始，經歷開模、分件、不鏽鋼片一片一片鍛打成形，再由師傅手工焊接、研磨與鏡面拋光，過程層層疊進，無一可以草率。每一條曲線、每一處轉折，皆來自雕塑家對空間力道與結構語彙的長年經驗。

　　能在高海拔、潮濕多霧的環境中安穩佇立，不鏽鋼材質與鼎足結構同樣功不可沒。它是藝術與工程的結合，也是對自然條件與時間考驗的回應。這樣的作品，既來自藝術家的手，也來自職人團隊的專業與心血。

　　《元寶犀牛》在雲端之上日日與世界對話。它映照自然萬象，也映照人心所感。它如同一面鏡子，不語而深，記錄著地方的脈動，也映出觀者內心的波光。

　　從這裡出發，願每一位與牠相遇的人，都能感受到土地的溫度、藝術的厚度，並將這份靜謐與力量，帶回自己的生活之中。

　Yuanbao Rhino: Reflecting Nature, Embracing the Human Spirit

　　At the entrance of the Taiping Suspension Bridge in Meishan, Chiayi, stands a gleaming stainless-steel rhino. It doesn’t just sit quietly among the clouds and mountains—it becomes part of them. The sky, the mist, the trees, and even passing visitors are mirrored on its polished body, making it an ever-changing part of the landscape.

　　Created by Taiwanese artist Shih Li-Jen, the “Yuanbao Rhino” draws inspiration from the traditional shape of a yuanbao—a boat-shaped gold ingot symbolizing prosperity in Chinese culture. But the meaning goes far beyond wealth. Its rounded, generous form speaks to an ancient philosophy: true abundance comes from openness and inclusion.

　　One of the sculpture’s most striking features is its upward-facing horn, designed not as a literal rhino horn, but as a symbolic gesture—a thumbs-up. This shape, complete with fingerprint-like textures, reflects hope, affirmation, and the uniqueness of every human being. As sunlight hits it, the surface casts swirling reflections, echoing the natural rhythms of the mountains.

　　Beneath the rhino, its legs are abstracted into the shape of ancient Chinese tripod vessels, known as dings. These forms, once used for rituals and symbolizing authority and cultural heritage, now serve as a solid foundation—rooting the sculpture in tradition while supporting a vision for the future.

Crafted through months of design and labor-intensive metalwork, each curve of the sculpture was carefully hammered, welded, and polished by hand. Though it appears simple and smooth, the process involved complex craftsmanship and teamwork, ensuring it can stand tall amid the changing mountain weather.

　　More than just a sculpture, the Yuanbao Rhino invites reflection—literally and emotionally. It’s a mirror of the environment, and of ourselves. Stand before it, and you’ll see more than your reflection; you’ll see a connection between art, nature, culture, and your place in the world.