Chi Man Lai was born in Hong Kong in 1949‭.‬

He graduated from the National Taiwan Art Academy in Taipei‭, ‬Taiwan‭. ‬From 1973‭ ‬to 1977‭ ‬he worked in the Henraux Studios in Querceta‭, ‬Italy‭, ‬as an independent artist‭.‬

There he started to‭ ‬make sculptures that were inspired by the concept behind Chinese characters‭.‬

In 1977‭ ‬and 1978‭ ‬he was awarded the Robert‭‬‭. ‬Russin Fellowship in Sculpture‭, ‬in Wyoming‭, ‬U.S.A‭.‬

He received a Master of Fine Arts Degree from the University of Wyoming in 1980‭ ‬after which he returned to Europe where he settled in Holland‭. ‬There he started to combine stone with organic materials like rice‭ ‬and beans‭, ‬to explore the concept of Chinese philosophy‭; ‬which emphasizes how man can live with nature in harmony‭.‬

He was invited to teach at the Taipei National University of the Arts in Taiwan in 1984‭.‬

Won a grand prize in the First R.O.C‭. ‬Sculpture Exhibition of the Taipei Fine Arts Museum in Taiwan‭, ‬in 1985‭. ‬Organized the first International Taiwan Sculpture Symposium in Tainan‭, ‬Taiwan in 1989‭.‬

Has participated in personal and group exhibitions in Taiwan and abroad‭. ‬His works are in public collections in Taiwan‭, ‬Hong Kong‭, ‬Korea‭, ‬Japan‭, ‬China‭, ‬Holland and the U.S‭.‬

Lives and works in Taiwan‭.‬