Ahn Jung-geun's Prison Calligraphy Recovered Domestically Through Auction

Seoul Auction December Auction Consignments

The calligraphy of independence activist Ahn Jung-geun, currently located in Japan, will return to Korea through an auction.

Ahn Jung-geun's phrase, 'Yonghojiungsegijakinmyojitae (龍?之雄勢豈作蚓猫之熊)'.
[Photo by Seoul Auction]

Seoul Auction announced on the 8th that it will hold the "176th Art Auction" at 4 p.m. on the 19th at the Seoul Auction Gangnam Center. A total of 78 items will be exhibited, with a total low estimated price of about 6.8 billion KRW.

In this auction, the calligraphy written by Ahn Jung-geun while imprisoned in the Yosu prison will find a new owner. Ahn Jung-geun’s work titled ‘Yonghoji Ungse Gi Jakin Myoji Tae (龍?之雄勢豈作蚓猫之熊)’ is a piece located in Japan that is being repatriated to Korea and will be publicly revealed for the first time. Created in March 1910, shortly before Ahn’s execution, the brushwork is bold and dignified, making it hard to believe it was made by someone facing death. The phrase, interpreted as “How can the brave and majestic stance of the dragon and tiger be compared to the appearance of worms and cats,” is accompanied by Ahn’s distinctive seal, evoking the life of Ahn who devoted himself to the independence movement.

A total of eight works from painter Park Seo-bo’s ‘Myobeop’ series, including one edition piece, will be exhibited. The series allows a retrospective look at Park’s career, featuring pencil Myobeop, which can be considered the beginning of Myobeop, black linear Myobeop on hanji paper from the late 1990s, and colorful Myobeop works from the 2000s that showcase vivid hues. Notably, yellow, orange, and green colored Myobeop pieces are each presented, allowing viewers to enjoy the diverse colors of nature translated onto canvas by the master of monochrome painting.

Image of Andy Warhol's iconic subject 'Dollar Sign' artwork. [Photo by Seoul Auction]

Following the September auction, Andy Warhol’s iconic motif ‘Dollar Sign’ is once again featured. Created in 1982, this piece is characterized by its vivid and dynamic expression through strong complementary color contrasts of turquoise and red backgrounds.

Yayoi Kusama’s ‘Pumpkin’ embodies the artist’s themes of ‘Accumulation,’ ‘Infinity,’ and ‘Cosmic nature,’ offering a sense of three-dimensionality and vitality. Additionally, Jung Sang-hwa’s monochrome paintings, one red and one blue, each sized 30-ho, will be auctioned.

In the category of antique art, the ‘Portrait and Related Artifacts of Independence Activist Choi Jeon-gu’ attract attention. The portrait of Choi Jeon-gu, painted by Seokji Chae Yong-shin, known as the ‘Last Royal Court Painter of Joseon,’ showcases Seokji’s brushwork through detailed and concrete expression. Other porcelain items with notable patterns and decorations, such as ‘Baekja Cheonghwa Jinsa Dugak Sansuhwa Hwaemun Sagak Piltong,’ ‘Baekja Cheonghwa Gukhwa Munbyeong,’ and ‘Baekja Gahyeong Yeonjeok,’ will also find new owners.

The preview exhibition will be held from the 9th until the auction day on the 19th at the Seoul Auction Gangnam Center.

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