K Auction’s December Auction to Feature 16 Billion Won in Artworks on the 23rd... Youngkuk Yoo's "Work" Estimated at 700 Million to 1.2 Billion Won

Auction to Be Held at 4 p.m. on December 23 in Sinsa-dong, Gangnam
114 Works Valued at 16 Billion Won
Youngkuk Yoo's "Work" Estimated at 700 Million to 1.2 Billion Won

The December auction at K Auction will feature a total of 114 works, including Youngkuk Yoo's "Work" (1984) and Pierre-Auguste Renoir's still life "Nature morte aux fraises (Landscape with Strawberries, 1905)," with the total estimated value reaching approximately 16 billion won. The auction will take place at 4 p.m. on December 23 at K Auction’s headquarters in Sinsa-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul.

Youngkuk Yoo, 'Work' (1984). Courtesy of K Auction

Youngkuk Yoo's "Work" is a representative piece that encapsulates the artist’s late-period aesthetics. On the horizontal structure of sky and sea, a simplified oval crater and a massive, gently sloping mountain are rendered as color fields, dominating the center of the canvas. The repeated arch structures below the mountain and the color block at the bottom add structural rhythm and decorative elements to the landscape. The estimated price is between 700 million and 1.2 billion won.

Renoir's still life "Nature morte aux fraises (Landscape with Strawberries)" was created around 1905, when his artistry had reached full maturity. In addition to showcasing his rich sense of color, the piece is highly valued because it was directly purchased from the artist by Ambroise Vollard, the legendary art dealer of the 20th-century art market. The starting bid for the auction is set at 850 million won.

Renoir's still life painting "Nature morte aux fraises (Landscape with Strawberries, 1905)". Courtesy of K Auction

In addition, works by major figures in Western contemporary art such as Marc Chagall, Alex Katz, Tom Wesselmann, and Nicolas Party will also be presented.

The Korean modern and contemporary art section will feature a wide range of works from 1950s monochrome painting to contemporary abstraction, including pieces by leading figures of Korean abstract art such as Kim Whanki, Youngkuk Yoo, Park Seobo, Chung Sanghwa, Ha Chonghyun, and Lee Ufan, offering a comprehensive overview of 70 years of Korean abstraction. Of particular note are 11 drawings by a student who received direct guidance from Kim Whanki in 1961-1962 and has cherished them for over 60 years, now being presented at auction for the first time.

Works by female artists from Korea and abroad are also drawing attention. Paintings and prints by Yayoi Kusama, as well as representative works by Korean female artists such as Chun Kyungja and Choi Wookkyung, are included in the auction. This reflects both the recent reevaluation of women’s art and the growing demand in the market.

A preview exhibition, where visitors can view the auction items in person before the sale, will be held at the K Auction gallery from December 13 to 23. The exhibition will be open every day during the preview period with free admission and no reservation required. To participate in the auction, individuals must register as K Auction members and may bid via written, on-site, telephone, or online live bidding. On the day of the auction, anyone can attend regardless of membership status.