November Auction to Be Held on the 26th at Sinsa Headquarters
108 Works with an Estimated Value of 8.6 Billion KRW
The November auction, set to take place at the K Auction headquarters in Sinsa-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul on the 26th, will feature a total of 108 works, with an estimated value of approximately 8.6 billion KRW. Leading the auction is Kim Whanki's 1954 piece "Dapgyo," alongside masterpieces by renowned artists whose works collectively offer a comprehensive view of the 70-year history of abstract art in modern Korean art.
"Dapgyo" is the most notable among the five works by Kim Whanki featured in this auction. It is highly rare, depicting uniquely Korean landscapes and sentiments through Kim's distinctive visual language. The title "Dapgyo" (踏橋), meaning "stepping on the bridge," originates from a traditional custom performed during the first full moon of the lunar year, where people would step on bridges to ward off misfortune and pray for health and blessings.
Another work by Kim Whanki, "Untitled," illustrates the artist's journey as he explored and stylized Korean motifs, and from the mid-1960s, began focusing on compositions of dots and lines to express emotion and nature in an abstract language. The blue circle and the forms of two birds at the bottom evoke memories of his Paris period, while the arrangement of dots and bold lines at the top foreshadow the experiments with dots characteristic of his New York period. The bright yellow background enveloping the work, unlike the serene tones of earlier periods, leaves a warm yet flat impression.
Among the auction entries, Lee Bongsang's "Cat and Still Life" stands out for its composition juxtaposing still life objects and a cat within a living space. The tablecloth and vase atop the table, along with the cat beneath, reinterpret everyday moments through a painterly structure. The intersection of the static forms of the still life and the dynamic presence of the cat, combined with a thick texture, highlights the artist's delicate perspective. During the 1950s and 1960s, when Korean figurative painting was exploring new forms of expression at the boundary between tradition and modernity, Lee Bongsang's "Cat and Still Life" represents the pinnacle of such experimentation. His exploration of the essence of painting through ordinary objects remains fresh even today.
Lee Daewon, during a time when monochrome and minimalism dominated the Korean art scene in the 1950s and 1960s, established his own artistic world by focusing on familiar natural subjects such as mountains, fields, trees, and orchards. His auction entry, "Farm," uses two large panels to depict fields and fruit trees, visually embodying the vitality and order of nature. The forms of trees, combined with the hills in the background and the path below, create a stable composition. The rhythm generated by the division of color and transformation of form, together with the harmony of primary colors and repetitive brushstrokes, conveys the vibrancy of nature within the large canvas. This work fully reveals the harmony between nature and art that Lee Daewon pursued throughout his life.
In addition, works by major artists representing the most significant trends in Korean abstraction will be showcased together, ranging from first-generation pioneer Kim Whanki to the leading Dansaekhwa masters Park Seobo, Chung Sanghwa, and Ha Chonghyun, who currently drive the art market.
Also featured are Kim Tschangyeul, who explored the essence of existence through water droplets; Lee Ufan, who unraveled philosophical depth through the tension of lines and empty space, objects and space; Jang Wookjin, who captured Korean lyricism through scenes of everyday life and traditional iconography; Lee Daewon's monumental diptych paintings depicting quintessentially Korean landscapes such as mountains, fields, and orchards; and Oh Jiho, a pioneer of Korean Impressionism.
Alongside the masters of modern and contemporary Korean art, numerous works by internationally recognized artists will also be presented.
Highlights include David Hockney, who recently achieved strong results at Sotheby's auctions; Yayoi Kusama, who expresses the spiritual world through installations using endlessly repeating polka dots and mirrors; Eva Hesse, an avant-garde artist who borrowed the structure of minimalism to infuse it with human anxiety, organic vitality, and feminine sensibility; Kazuo Shiraga, a Japanese Art Informel master known for abstract works created through physical movement; Anthony Caro, who redefined the relationship between space and form with minimalist metal sculptures; and Donna Huanca, noted for her experimental performances and installations exploring themes of the body and identity.
In the Korean painting and antique art section, works include the portrait of Hujogo Neungseon by Seokji Chae Yongshin; "Chwijeok" by Namjeong Park Nosoo; "Flowers and Birds" by Idang Kim Eunho; "Blue-Green Landscape," "Eight Views of the East," and "Baeksundo" by Unbok Kim Gichang; as well as calligraphy pieces such as "Nongja Cheonhaji Daebon" by Unam Syngman Rhee, "Letter" by Chusa Kim Jeonghee, and "Ilsim Ildeok" by Baekbeom Kim Gu. Ceramics such as "Blue and White Porcelain Flower Vase" and "White Porcelain Jar" will also be up for auction.
The preview, where the auction entries can be viewed in person before the auction, will be held at the K Auction exhibition hall from the 15th until the auction on the 26th. The exhibition hall will be open every day during the preview period, and admission is free without reservation. Those wishing to participate in the auction can do so by joining K Auction as a member and bidding in writing, on-site, by phone, or through online live bidding. On the day of the auction, the 26th, anyone can attend the auction regardless of membership status.
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