Kim Whanki's 'Hangari' Leads July Auction
Works by Park Seobo, Chung Sanghwa, Lee Ufan, and International Artists Featured
Korean Ceramics and Antique Paintings Also Up for Bidding
Preview Open from July 12 to 23, Free Admission for All
The July auction at K-Auction's headquarters in Sinsa-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, will take place at 4 p.m. on the 23rd. A total of 104 works, valued at approximately 8.7 billion won, will be up for auction. The starting bid for the highlight piece, Kim Whanki's 'Hangari,' is set at 950 million won.
The featured work 'Hangari' was created in Paris in 1958, before Kim Whanki began his full-fledged abstract period in New York. This piece, which reinterprets the Joseon white porcelain jar?a cherished object of Kim Whanki?through a modern painterly language, is deeply imbued with Eastern sentiment and lyricism.
Youngkuk Yoo's 'Work,' which starts at 500 million won, continues his consistent exploration of mountains as a subject, condensing the essence of nature through geometric structure and vivid color. The bold, simplified white lines flowing across a canvas of deep navy and black reveal Youngkuk Yoo's confession: "I did not paint the mountain, but myself."
Other works in this auction include those by Park Seobo, Chung Sanghwa, and Lee Ufan, who explore the relationship between self and the world through philosophical reflection. In addition, a significant number of works by female artists from Korea and abroad?such as Yayoi Kusama, Choi Wookkyung, Ha Taeim, Ayako Rokkaku, and Egami Etsu?are also featured.
Among the international artists, works by Mimmo Paladino, Enzo Cucchi, Sandro Chia, and Miquel Barcelo?four leading figures of 1980s European Neo-Expressionism?will be presented together. Their works, which revived emotion and narrative in painting during the era of conceptual art, shed new light on the essence of painting today through figuration, symbolism, and primal energy. A K-Auction representative stated, "Through these rarely seen works in Korea, not only can we observe the art historical currents of contemporary European art, but collectors will also have the opportunity to broaden the horizons of their collections with an international perspective."
In the Korean painting and antique art section, ceramics such as 'Baekjaho' (inquiry for price), 'Cheongja Eumgak Yeonhwamun Maebyeong' (25 to 50 million won), and 'Baekja Cheonghwa Unbongmunho' (40 to 100 million won) will be auctioned alongside paintings such as 'Haehak Bandodo' (80 to 200 million won), 'Taehak Gyecheop' (20 to 50 million won), 'Bokdeokbang' by Unbo Kim Gichang (35 to 65 million won), 'From Forgotten History' by Uhyang Park Raehyun (42 to 120 million won), 'Spring Landscape' by Sojeong Byun Gwansik (5 to 13 million won), and 'Autumn Landscape' by Uijae Heo Baekryeon (12 to 30 million won). Calligraphy works such as 'Gwangbok Joguk' by Baekbeom Kim Gu (14 to 20 million won) and 'Jeongyeong' by Uiam Son Byeonghui (5 to 10 million won) will also be featured.
A preview, where visitors can view the auction items in person before the auction, will be held at the K-Auction exhibition hall from the 12th to the 23rd. During the preview period, the exhibition hall will be open daily without any closures, and viewing is free without reservation. Those wishing to participate in the auction can do so by joining as a K-Auction member (free of charge) and bidding in writing, on-site, by phone, or via online live bidding. On the day of the auction, the 23rd, anyone can attend the auction regardless of membership status.
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