Seoul Auction, Lee Geon-yong's 'Dalpaengi Georeum' and Others Auctioned... 113 Items Submitted, Worth 7.2 Billion KRW

4 PM on the 23rd at Seoul Auction Gangnam Center

Seoul Auction announced on the 12th that it will auction 113 items, including performance results by Lee Geon-yong, at the Seoul Auction Gangnam Center in Sinsa-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul on the 23rd.

Lee Geonyong 'Snail's Pace'.
[Photo by Seoul Auction]

The auction features Joseon Dynasty colored decorative paintings, antique artworks with high historical value, and representative Dansaekhwa and experimental art pieces from modern and contemporary Korean art, with a total low estimated price of about 7.2 billion KRW.

Among the items, the performance result of Lee Geon-yong, an experimental art artist, from his representative performance "Snail Walk" is appearing in the auction market for the first time, drawing attention.

"Snail Walk" is a performance that the artist presented at the 1979 S?o Paulo Biennale, which became a sensation. The artist squats down and draws lines with chalk while simultaneously erasing parts of the lines with his bare feet as he moves forward. The auction piece, nearly 8 meters long on cardboard, is the result of a performance held at the Korea-Turkey 50th Anniversary Exhibition at the Incheon Bupyeong History Museum in 2007. The estimated price is 200 to 300 million KRW.

Works from Dansaekhwa artists such as Ha Chong-hyun's "Junction" series and Park Seo-bo's "Myobup" series, as well as paintings from modern artists like Moon Shin, Lee Dae-won, and Nam Kwan from the 1940s to 1950s, are also available. These items are not only rare but also allow collectors to explore the fresh styles of widely known artists, attracting significant interest. A large-scale installation work "We" by hyperrealist painter Ko Young-hoon is also up for auction.

Sinjeong Mangguk Jeondo.
[Photo by Seoul Auction]

In the field of modern and contemporary art, Ayako Rokkaku's "Untitled," which conveys a bright and dynamic spring atmosphere, will find a new owner. Works by overseas artists such as Robert Combas' "Maite," who has established a unique position in the French art scene with bold themes and vivid colors, and Andr? Masson's dreamlike "Baigneuse dans les Ajoncs" (Bathing Woman in the Gorse) are also included in the auction.

In the antique art category, the map "Shinjeong Mangguk Jeondo" created by the Japanese government in 1855 is listed with a starting price of 30 million KRW. This piece was featured on last year's KBS program "TV Show Genuine Artifacts" and labels the East Sea as "Joseon Sea" (朝鮮海).

Historical documents revealing the human sides of historical figures such as King Heonjong of Joseon, Toegye Yi Hwang, Songgang Jeong Cheol, and Baekbeom Kim Gu will also be auctioned. Baekbeom Kim Gu's "Dapseol" is a phrase he wrote in April 1948 before his visit to Pyongyang, and Songgang Jeong Cheol's "Ganchal" reflects the political situation shortly after the outbreak of the Imjin War, allowing insight into the concerns and determination these figures felt amid historical upheavals.

Portrait of Toegye Yi Hwang.
Photo by Seoul Auction

The "Sigo" by Gosan Hwang Gi-ro, regarded as a master of early Joseon cursive script, bears the inscription of Baegwan (拜觀) by Wichang Oh Se-chang, who was known for his exceptional connoisseurship at the time. Songsoon's "Ganchal" contains a heartfelt request to someone for calligraphy, offering a glimpse into the lives of past collectors.

Additionally, colored folding screen paintings such as "Morando" (estimated 400 to 600 million KRW), "Gwak Bunyang Haengnakdo" (300 to 500 million KRW), and "Yojiyondo" (450 to 800 million KRW) will find new owners. The exhibited works can be viewed free of charge at the Gangnam Center from the 13th to the 23rd.