Guided Viewing: "Marble: From Nature to Sculpture with Sculptors Cynthia Sah and Nicolas Bertoux"

“Marble: From Nature to Sculpture” will present artworks created by sculptors Cynthia Sah and Nicolas Bertoux together as well as independently. The main purpose of this exhibition is to illustrate their experience in creating marble sculptures and what happens during the process. There are sculptures in both marble and plaster models to illustrate various stages of creativity and workmanship. For many years, Cynthia and Nicolas have used the traditional method of carving but in the last 20 years, they have been using CNC machines that can rough out or carve forms and create contemporary artworks.

Smaller models of public artworks will be used to show the process of making large and monumental sculptures. These models were made from different materials including clay, plaster, aluminum and resin, and some used 3D modeling and printing.

At the exhibition, we will find out more about the nature of marble ‒from the marble quarry to the process of carving ‒ and the innovative machines available to do the work.  Participants will be allowed to touch the sculptures and models to know the difference between rough and finished; to feel and understand the quality, form and the different materials.                                                                       

Resource Persons

Cynthia Sah was born in Hong Kong in 1952 and grew up in Japan and Taiwan. After receiving her Master’s degree in the U.S., she has chosen to work in Italy where she lives since 1979.  Her sculptures reflect the Chinese philosophy of essential equilibrium, often translated into marble or bronze, which takes shape as lightness and fluidity in space.  Her artworks are in private and public collections such as Taipei Fine Art Museum, Farum International Sculpture Park in Denmark and Azuchi-Cho Cultural Center in Japan.

Nicolas Bertoux was born in 1952 in Paris, France and began his career as an interior architect and is now totally dedicated to sculpture.  His main direction is to integrate artwork into the environment by relating to a given space, local culture, history and nature.

His monumental works can be found in public and private places like the European Parliament of Strasbourg and in the Town of Ronchamp in France, or in Taiwan at the Institute of Transportation and in the Kaohsiung Museum of Fine Arts.