The curves of the woman's slender figure, her carefree lifestyle, and her passion for poolside activities promise to turn heads at the latest exhibition by Taiwan's best-known sculptor, Ju Ming.

The 'Living World Series - Swimming' show at the Juming Museum in Jinshan just outside Taipei, features Ju's collection of stainless steel sculptures of the ladies on a day out by the pool.

It celebrates not just the grace of female beauty, but the artist's innovative approach - a marriage of artistic concepts and industrial skills.

Ju has an appetite for trying different materials to create his art. At the outdoor museum of his own creation set among the hills of misty Jinshan, the range of Ju's sculptures is on display in outdoor exhibitions, using different kinds of material, from wood, styroform and bronze to plaster, ceramics and steel.

Originally trained as a woodcarver, Ju attained fame in Taiwan the 1970s by winning several awards in the prestigious Taiwan Provincial Art Exhibition. He also won the 18th Fukuoka Asian Culture Prize in 2007.

In 1980s Ju began touring galleries overseas. It was during his overseas sojourns that Ju created the 'Living World' series to depict figures drawn from a modern, Westernised society.

Women shining brightly in bikinis executing different poses by the pool represent his vision of the modern woman's favourite pastime. The artist likes working with the shiny material like stainless steep, which he says can capture the glowing complexion of the bikini-clad ladies out in the sun.

"I've never tried this style before - it feels different for me," says Jun.

Ju's ladies - petite, svelte and never flabby - are seen lying by the pool, stretching their limbs, bending their bodies, as if they are about to jump into the water.

They're more into showing off their figures and curves rather than doing what they should be doing - swimming, an act none of them are caught up in.

"The series is about 'swimming', but none of the sculptures seem to be swimming!" Ju admits. "Indeed, have you noticed that the figures are either doing warm-ups or basking in the sun, but no one is swimming at all?"

There's a reason for this: For the artist, the expression of attitudes and feelings are far more important than true-to-life presentations of the act of swimming. He prefers to capture moments of summer pleasure under the bright sun.

The use of stainless steel ('graceful and delicate') couldn't be more suitable, with its metallic lustre. The artist says stainless steel can successfully expresses the delicate texture of these young girls' skin with the reflective nature of the material.

"Its whitish lustre has made the girls more graceful than ever. The material becomes more delicate and aesthetically beautiful than ever."

Ju Ming artfully combines exquisite texture with the dramatic movements of the figures, allowing the sculptures and the material to closely respond to one another.

The initial models of the sculptures are made of Styrofoam. The artist uses clay to fill up the tiny holes on the surface and polishes the models to present the delicate skin of young girls and their graceful body curves. Then the sculptures are moulded through wax casting.

The hands, feet, and faces of the figures are further burnished to look glittering and reflective, contrary to the parts that retains rough Styrofoam particles, such as the swimming suits and hair. The contrasts of smooth-coarse and glistening-glossy render the sculptures a discrepant sense of beauty.

It's certain that visitors will find these figures eye-catching and worth a long photo session, making it all the more possible to conclude that Ju's collection of bikini-clad ladies serves just one purpose - to be seen and appreciated.

What could be better then than taking in the sight of the sleepy fine figures in the sweltering afternoon?

(The writer travelled to Taiwan courtesy of the Taipei Economic & Cultural Office.)

Juming Museum - an open space for sculpture

Created with Ju Ming's own money as the only outdoor sculpture museum in Taiwan, the Juming Museum is located in picturesque Jinshan, an hour's drive from downtown Taipei. Its vast grounds feature spacious outdoor exhibition areas that allow visitors to get up close to the artworks on display.

While nearly 80 per cent of the sculptures displayed here are outside in natural surroundings, the museum also has two interior exhibition spaces.

The Museum Collection Hall features works by Buffet, Picasso, Andy Warhol, Milo, Liao Ji-chun, Kuo Po-chuan, Yang Shan-liang, Hung Jui-lin and other sculptors.

The Museum Main Hall features Ju's wooden carvings and plane pieces with a section devoted to works by his two teachers, Lee Jing-chuan and Yang Yin-feng.

Ju is best known for his Taichi Series works, made in Ju Ming's middle age and on display in the museum's Taichi Square.

Most of the works on display are large-size bronze works made from foam moulds. Their sheer size and magnificent shapes put visitors in the state of tai chi. His works of the Taichi Series are the tangible embodiment of his concern for the spiritual aspect.

The Ju Ming Museum is at No 2, She-shi-hu, Chin-shan, Taipei, Taiwan. It's open Tuesday to Sunday.

Call (886-2) 2498 9940, e-mail service@juming.org.tw or visit www.Juming.org.tw.