A visitor approaches “Van Gogh” by Korean artist Kang Hyung-koo displayed at the first Art Basel in Hong Kong on Wednesday. [AP/NEWSIS]
Korean art galleries and auction houses are working to attract art collectors who are flocking to Art Basel Hong Kong, which started yesterday.
This year’s event is the first Hong Kong edition of the high-profile art fair which has been held in the Swiss city of Basel and in the American city of Miami Beach, Florida.
The four-day show at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Center presents paintings, sculptures, photography, video and installation works by more than 3,000 artists through 245 galleries from 35 countries. Eleven galleries from Korea are participating, including Arario, Hakgojae and Kukje.
The Germany-based Korean artist Haegue Yang, represented by Kukje, is showing “Journal of Mundane and Uncertain Days,” a large installation work that consists of Venetian blinds in her signature style, as part of the “Encounters” special exhibition. Seoul Auction, Korea’s biggest auction house, is scheduled to put 66 modern and contemporary pieces of art and 21 pieces of jewelry up for sale at the Grand Hyatt Hong Kong on Sunday.
Lee UFan’s “From Line” (1978) will be put up for sale by Seoul Auction at the Grand Hyatt Hong Kong on Sunday. Provided by Seoul Auction
The artwork ranges from veteran artist Lee Ufan’s abstract paintings including “From Line,” valued between 430 million won ($383,000) and 580 million won, to young artist Choe U-ram’s small kinetic sculpture “Urban Female Larva Scientific name: Anmopista Volaticus Floris Uram,” expected to sell for 17 million won to 29 million won.
Among foreign artists’ work on offer by the Korean auction house are “Chii-Chan & Chin,” a set of sculptures by Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama who is famous for her obsession with dots. The work is estimated to be worth 550 million won to 650 million won.
K Auction, Korea’s second-largest auction house, will collaborate with Hong Kong’s Asian Art Auction Alliance and Singapore’s Larasati to hold the 10th United Asian Auctioneer’s Sale at the Hong Kong Renaissance Harbour View Hotel on Saturday. Eighty-three works of art will be put up for sale. The highlights include Chinese artist Zeng Fanzhi’s painting “Untitled,” estimated to be worth 250 million won to 350 million won, and Korean artist Kim Tschang-Yeul’s painting “Waterdrops ENS 212,” valued at 90 million won to 150 million won.
By Moon So-young [symoon@joongang.co.kr]
http://koreajoongangdaily.joinsmsn.com/news/article/Article.aspx?aid=2972034
