Lee Ufan - 20th Century & Contemporary Art & Design Evening Sale Hong Kong Saturday, May 27, 2017 | Phillips

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  • Provenance

    Private Collection, Tokyo
    Private Collection (acquired from the above in 1995)
    Sotheby’s, New York, 13 May 2010, lot 229
    Acquired at the above sale by the present owner

  • Catalogue Essay

    The present lot, painted in 1980, is a stunning example of Lee Ufan’s signature From Line series, of which the artist dedicated over ten years of his life between 1973 and 1984. A leading figure of the Japanese avant-garde movement Mono-Ha, Ufan sought to abandon traditional western notions of representation in response to the rapid industrialisation of Japan occurring in the 1970s. Instead, Lee meditated upon his Confucian roots, drawing upon calligraphy and Nihon-ga (Japanese-style painting) as sources of inspiration in his art. In From Line No. 80033, twenty-two vertical lines extend across the canvas, each one varying in thickness of stroke, and ultimately evaporating as the paint is used up. The rich blue hue, which the artist fashioned himself by mixing powdered cobalt pigment with glue, vibrates against the pale yellow wash of the canvas. Equal importance is placed on the line, and the deliberate absence of line, lending both a sense of rhythm and stillness to the composition as a whole. To create these works, the artist rotated the canvas 90 degrees, pulling the brush horizontally from left to right in repetitive, fluid motions. In describing his practice the artist notes, “Before working, I calm my breathing, correct my posture, and hold my brush quietly” (Lee Ufan, quoted in Lee Ufan, exh. cat., PaceWildenstein, New York, 2008, p. 7). The act of painting thus becomes a ritualistic, meditative process, resulting in a work of art that possesses a dramatic, yet exquisite simplicity.

Property of an Important Private Collector

17

From Line, No. 80033

1980
signed and dated “L. UFAN 80” lower right; further signed and titled on the reverse
pigment suspended in glue on canvas
78.7 x 99.7 cm (30 7/8 x 39 1/4 in.)
Painted in 1980.

Estimate
HK$2,300,000 - 3,300,000 
€277,000-397,000
$295,000-423,000

Sold for HK$2,120,000

Contact Specialist
Jonathan Crockett
Deputy Chairman, Asia and Head of 20th Century & Contemporary Art, Asia
+852 2318 2023

Sandy Ma
Specialist, Head of Evening Sale
+852 2318 2025

General Enquiries
+852 2318 2000

20th Century & Contemporary Art & Design Evening Sale

Hong Kong Auction 28 May 2017