Will the Kusama craze continue in the art market... 'Venus Award' listed for auction at 4 billion won

Seoul Auction, First Major Auction of the Year on the 22nd at 3 PM
Total 145 Items Worth Approximately 18 Billion Won Submitted

Yayoi Kusama, Statue of Venus Obliterated by Infinity Nets, mixed media, statue: 67×76×214.5(h)cm, canvas: 227.3×145.5cm, 1998. Photo courtesy of Seoul Auction

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Heeyoon] Seoul Auction will showcase the 'Venus Statue' by Japanese contemporary artist Kusama Yayoi (92) through a major auction.

On the 14th, Seoul Auction announced that it will exhibit a total of 145 works worth approximately 18.8 billion KRW, including Kusama Yayoi's 'Venus Statue,' at the '165th Art Auction' to be held on the 22nd.

The 'Venus Statue' by Kusama Yayoi featured this time corresponds to number 4 in the 'Statue of Venus Obliterated by Infinity Nets' series, which consists of 10 works. This piece was exhibited at Kusama's solo exhibition at the Robert Miller Gallery in New York in 1998 and is attracting attention fueled by Kusama's recent record-breaking auction market fever.

In the overseas section, original works by the recently most notable American artist Sarah Hughes and three-dimensional works by 'thread artist' Chiharu Shiota, among other famous overseas artists, will be exhibited.

Lee Ufan, 1936-, From Point, oil and mineral pigment on canvas 71.8×90.2cm(30), 1978. Photo by Seoul Auction

Works by Lee Ufan from different periods can also be seen as a series. Starting with the artist's 1978 work 'From Point,' it will be presented together with 'From Line,' 'With the Wind,' and others. The 1970s work 'Roof' by pioneer of Korean abstract art Yoo Youngkuk, Kim Whanki's 'Plum Blossom, Moon, and White Porcelain,' as well as paintings by domestic masters such as Lee Bae and Kim Changyeol will also be introduced.

In the antique art section, major works by Cheongjeon Lee Sangbeom and Sojeong Byeon Gwansik, the two great figures of modern Korean landscape painting, will be showcased. A rare large-scale work 'Landscape' by Hoseonggwan Choi Buk will also be introduced. This piece is considered important in art history as it bears collection history and appreciation notes on the back.

The late Joseon Dynasty's representative literati painter currently, Sim Sa-jeong's 'Jiduseonin-do' and a Joseon Dynasty pure white porcelain jar 'Baekja Ho' are also included.

The works up for auction can be viewed free of charge at the Seoul Auction Gangnam Center until the 22nd.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.