Zhang Huan - 20th Century & Contemporary Art Day Sale London Thursday, June 27, 2019 | Phillips

20th Century & Contemporary Art Day Sale

London Auction 28 June 2019

  • Provenance

    Private Collection, London (acquired directly from the artist)
    Private Collection
    Phillips, London, 11 December 2013, lot 14
    Acquired at the above sale by the present owner

  • Catalogue Essay

    Chinese Iconographies: A Selection of Works by Chinese Artists from an Esteemed European Collection.

    The ensuing group of works by Chinese artists explore the importance of identifying with and reflecting on their cultural heritage through physical objects, motifs and references whilst addressing current socio-political circumstances within China and around the world.

    Memory Door (Miss) is a commanding example from Zhang Huan’s 2006 series entitled Memory Doors in which the artist collected doors from country houses in Shanxi Province that were being torn down or renovated in favour of a new, Western style. Huan used the Chinese tradition of pasting gods or deities to bring luck and fortune, now incorporating three different themes: military, day labor and daily life. Huan’s pasted photographs were partially carved away into bas-reliefs that in turn interacted with the surviving measures of the photographs. Merging traditions and skills of the past with innovative artistic devises, Huan employed Chinese artisans instead of artists to help complete the carvings, simultaneously keeping traditional Chinese craftsmanship alive, whilst creating an innovative outlets and practices for their specialist skills.

Property From An Esteemed European Collection

205

Zhang Huan

Memory Door (Miss)

signed, titled [in Chinese] and dated 'Zhang Huan 2008.' on the reverse
silkscreen on paper mounted on carved antique wooden door
135.9 x 332.9 x 17.1 cm (53 1/2 x 131 1/8 x 6 3/4 in.)
Executed in 2008.

Estimate
£20,000 - 30,000 ‡

Sold for £22,500

Contact Specialist

Tamila Kerimova

Director, Specialist
Head of Day Sale
44 20 7318 4065

tkerimova@phillips.com

20th Century & Contemporary Art Day Sale

London Auction 28 June 2019