Auction to Be Held at Seoul Auction Gangnam Center at 4 p.m. on the 24th
92 Lots with a Combined Low Estimate of 6.4 Billion KRW
Works by Kyungja Chun, Marc Chagall, and Park Sookeun to Be Featured
On June 19, Seoul Auction announced that it will hold the "184th Art Auction" at 4:00 p.m. on June 24 at the Seoul Auction Gangnam Center. This auction will feature representative works by renowned artists from Korea and abroad, including Kyungja Chun, Marc Chagall, and Park Sookeun, seeking new owners. In particular, a special section titled "Modern Moments" will spotlight Korean modern art, offering a rare opportunity to view works by significant modern Korean artists. The antique art section will introduce valuable calligraphic works and paintings by Joseon-era literati. A total of 97 lots will be offered, with a combined low estimate of approximately 6.4 billion KRW.
Kyungja Chun, Yun Samwol (1978). Seoul Auction
Kyungja Chun's Yun Samwol was created in 1978, during the mature period of the artist's career. The title "Yun Samwol" refers to "the leap month of March." In traditional Korean customs, a leap month was considered an auspicious time when nothing could bring misfortune. True to this meaning, the artwork is filled with vitality and auspicious energy. Various motifs such as flowers, deer, swans, and birds?hallmarks of Chun's oeuvre?harmonize within a fantastical atmosphere, showcasing a highly accomplished modern reinterpretation of classical legends that the artist pursued.
Marc Chagall's Profil au Bouquet ("Profile with Bouquet") is another work containing the artist's signature imagery. Alongside the central female figure, a male profile is depicted, and a sheep is positioned above the woman's head. Surrounding them are figures playing the violin and dancing, as well as the sun and moon, all contributing to a mysterious ambiance. The overall composition employs Chagall's characteristic blue hues, creating a transcendent and dreamlike atmosphere.
Park Sookeun's Tree and Passerby, which warmly depicts a woman and child passing by a large tree, was exhibited at the artist's posthumous retrospective. Created in 1964, during the late years of Park's career when his textural expressions became more pronounced, the piece is notable for its clear and distinct line work.
In response to the recent trend in the Korean art world of revisiting the history of modern Korean art, Seoul Auction has established a special section titled "Modern Moments" for this auction, focusing on 14 works by artists who left a significant mark on the history of modern Korean art.
Byun Shiji's Hill of Storms, by the so-called "painter of storms," is a large-scale work measuring 2.4 meters in width?an exceptionally rare size among the artist's oeuvre. As the title suggests, the painting impressively conveys the dynamic waves and strong winds of the Jeju sea, with recurring motifs such as trees, thatched houses, and horses adding a distinctive local flavor. Also on offer is Byun Shiji's London Landscape, which, unlike his usual Jeju landscapes, captures a cityscape viewed from the Thames in London, England.
Lee Inseong's Apple Tree is one of the works in which the artist deepened his focus on local themes after settling in Daegu in 1935. Lee produced three works with similar imagery, and the auctioned piece is the smallest among them. The apple tree filling the canvas is laden with large apples, evoking warmth and abundance. Also up for auction is Park Youngsun's Dawn of May 16, which depicts military vehicles crossing the Hangang Railway Bridge during the May 16 military coup in 1961, making it of significant historical and archival value.
Works by modern artists who have not yet received sufficient attention in the market will also be introduced. Hwang Suljo, a Western-style painter from Gyeongju, Gyeongsangbuk-do, is known for his ongoing expressionist work. His Namsan, Gyeongju, depicting his hometown and the place where he spent his final years, will be offered in this auction. Other highlights include Portrait of a Woman by Oha Lee Byungkyu, who pursued realism, and an abstract work by Wooseok Jang Bal, who was an early adopter of Western painting styles and presented an artistic world where East and West harmonized.
The antique art section will introduce valuable calligraphic and painting works. Gusa Seonsaeng Jocheoncheop (Four Volumes, Complete Set) is a poetry album compiled in 1624, containing farewell poems received by Joseon mid-dynasty official Kwon Yeop when he departed for Ming China as an envoy. It includes the calligraphy of nearly 120 literati of the time, making it a valuable resource for the study of mid-Joseon cultural history. In addition to poetry manuscripts, the set contains 16 paintings, including landscapes, the Four Gentlemen, floral works, and depictions of insects and plants.
Masterpieces by artists active in 18th-century Honam are also featured, such as Landscape and Figures under Pine Trees by Kyungam Kim Ikju. Although few of his works survive, Kim Ikju was esteemed enough to be summoned twice as a royal portraitist. The auctioned pieces demonstrate his mastery of traditional Southern School landscape painting. Bird and Flower by Samyangjae Kim Deokhyeong is a refined work depicting a bird perched on a branch crossing the canvas diagonally. Kim Deokhyeong, active from the late 18th to early 19th century, was a central figure in the cultural and artistic circles of his time, associating with Kim Hongdo and Kang Sehuang, but his works are rare and thus attract attention.
The preview exhibition preceding the auction will be held at Seoul Auction Gangnam Center starting June 14. The exhibition is open to the public free of charge every day from 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. until the auction day on June 24.
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