Heart Sculpture Residence Introduction
Located in Xipingli, Yuanli, Heart Carving House is a stone house close to the sea, where the late artist Chen Chong-hui created his works. He was awarded the Council for Cultural Affairs' Traditional Arts Award and established the “Mountain Gate Carving Society” in 1973. With sharp chisels and heavy wooden hammers, he brought out the primal life from wood, showcasing the essence of Indigenous artistic traditions in every stroke. The stone carvings at the entrance of Heart Carving House express a rustic charm, with walls made of large stones resembling two hundred-step snakes, highlighting the true spirit of primitive art. The stone pillars on the right side of the main entrance, the primitive pavilion on the left, along with garden features filled with original mortars, add to the antique charm of Heart Carving House; inside the house, the works of Chen Chong-hui and his disciples are displayed. His creations were deeply influenced by the cultures of the Paiwan and Rukai tribes, primarily featuring themes of humans, snakes, deer, and pigs. His unique carving methods and artistic forms, stripped of utilitarian purposes, strengthen the characteristics of the art, making it worth exploring.
