Korean abstract art hits Hong Kong auctions : Christie’s, Phillips and Seoul Auction to hold sales this weekend
The London-based auction house Christie’s will offer 39 pieces of works by Korean artists at its Hong Kong sales this weekend. Among them are, clockwise from top left, Rhee Seundja (1918-2009)’s “A City of Venus April”(2006), Ji Keun-wook’s “Actual Dynamics - 004”(2017), Chung Sang Hwa’s “Untitled 85-8-9” (1985) and Yun Hyong-keun’s “Burnt Umber & Ultramarine Blue” (1992). [CHRISTIE'S]
The London-based auction house Christie’s will present two paintings by Rhee Seundja (1918-2009), a rare female Korean first-generation abstract artist who was active in Paris, at its “Asian 20th Century Art” day sale in Hong Kong on Sunday.
The “Asian Contemporary Art” day sale on Sunday will include a special section titled “Natural Selection,” curated by independent curator Choi Dusu and featuring 13 young Korean artists. Some of them, such as Ji Keun-wook and Choi Sun, present contemporary abstract paintings in different contexts from modern abstract paintings.
In its prestigious evening sale on Saturday, the auction house will put up four paintings by three big names of the dansaekhwa movement - Park Seobo, Chung Sang Hwa and Yun Hyong-keun. Dansaekhwa, or Korean monochrome painting, is a style of mainstream Korean modern art from the late 1960s to the early ’80s, led by artists mostly born around 1930.
Christie’s Hong Kong will auction about 40 pieces of Korean artists’ works in total this weekend.
Seoul Auction, Korea’s leading auction house, will also present abstract paintings by artists in the generations before and after dansaekhwa among its total of 100 pieces at its Hong Kong sale on Sunday evening.
“The percentage of dansaekhwa pieces among the total works [on offer at] recent sales has been steady at 30 to 40 percent,” explained Son Ji-sung, head of the public relations team of Seoul Auction. “They no longer pull up the bid prices dynamically but solidly bolster the sales.”
“So, now, for this Hong Kong sale, we present Kim Whanki’s 1964 abstract painting [before his ‘dot paintings,’ which are considered to have inspired dansaekhwa] and works by three ‘next-generation’ abstract painters born in 1950s - Lee InHyeon, Kim TaekSang and Jang SeungTaik,” she added.
From left, Nam June Paik (1932-2006)’s 1991 video art piece “Untitled,” Lee Ufan’s 2006 painting diptych “Dialogue” and Kim Whanki (1913-1974)’s 1964 painting “Morning Star” will be up for auction at Seoul Auction’s Hong Kong sale on Sunday. [SEOUL AUCTION]
London-based auction house Phillips will introduce Korean abstract painter Oh Su-hwan at its “20th Century & Contemporary Art & Design Evening Sale” on Sunday.
Oh’s 1993 painting “God of Valley” will be offered at the sale as well as works by dansaekhwa artists including Chung and Lee. Oh, born in 1946, is a painter belonging to the generation that followed the dansaekhwa generation.
“The process for an artist to become a ‘blue chip’ in the market is as follows: First, bids for an artist’s works surge at international auctions. Then the world’s major galleries take interest and, after studying the artist, begin to deal with him or her, holding solo exhibitions. Finally, the world’s major museums hold solo exhibitions of the artist, solidifying his or her status in art history,” said So Jin-su, an art market expert and professor at Kangnam University in Yongin, Gyeonggi.
“Now, Park Seobo, Chung Sang Hwa and Yun Hyong-keun are approaching the final stage, while Lee Ufan is already at the final stage,” he continued.
“Dansaekhwa pieces have already passed the stage in which they give a new boost to the auction market. Now, auctioneers will focus on finding new energizers - possibly abstract paintings before and after dansaekhwa,” So said.
BY MOON SO-YOUNG [symoon@joongang.co.kr]
with the Korea JoongAng Daily
To write comments, please log in to one of the accounts.
Standards Board Policy (0/250자)