Kim Whanki and Lee Ufan Forgeries, Sojeon Art Museum Collections, and More... Seoul Auction June Auction

Seoul Auction will hold the '173rd Art Auction' at 4 p.m. on the 27th at the Seoul Auction Gangnam Center. A total of 135 works worth approximately 8.5 billion KRW have been submitted.

Se-deuk Lee (1921-2001), , 29.5×75.3cm, May 1954, Estimated Price 10 million to 25 million KRW [Photo by Seoul Auction]

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This auction draws attention by featuring a special session on modern and contemporary art called 'Sidae Yeoul' and a special session on antique art called 'Dongrak.' It showcases works by Korean modern artists who have not been sufficiently highlighted in the market so far, as well as a collection of ceramics from the Sojeon Museum of Art. Seoul Auction explained that the event aims to revisit the works of relatively undervalued modern artists and provide an opportunity to appreciate diversity.

'Sidae Yeoul' is designed to reexamine the works of Korean modern artists who kept their artistic spirit alive despite turbulent times such as the Japanese colonial period and the Korean War. Among the exhibited works are Lee Se-deuk’s 'Original Painting for the Mural at Bando Hotel Cafe' created for the Bando Hotel mural project, and Choi Young-rim’s early work 'Black Sun,' which is highly rare and holds significant historical value. Also featured is Oh Ji-ho’s 'Snow Scene,' which has never been publicly displayed before.

In the antique art special session 'Dongrak,' 23 ceramic pieces from the Sojeon Museum of Art collection, gathered by Sojeon Kim Yong-san (1922?2007), founder of the Geukdong Group, will be exhibited.

The exhibited works, which include celadon, white porcelain, and buncheong ware, are generally regarded as high-quality pieces. These include the 'White Porcelain Blue-and-White Landscape Moon Jar,' where the landscape painted on the neck and body harmonizes beautifully; the 'Celadon Inlaid Bottle with Grape Vine Pattern,' notable for its rare shape and elegant patterns; and the 'Buncheong Moon Jar with Peony and Arabesque Patterns,' which impresses with its front fully covered in peony and arabesque motifs.

Collection of Sojeon Art Museum, White Porcelain Blue and White Landscape Pattern Wine Vessel, 18.1×15.4×18.4(h)cm, Joseon Period, 180 million to 300 million KRW [Photo by Seoul Auction]

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Many artworks that will attract collectors’ interest are also featured. Nam June Paik’s installation work 'TV Cello' is a piece with a stronger sculptural character rather than a functional one, unlike the early works in the series intended for actual performance, and only about ten pieces remain worldwide. Lee Bae’s 'Issu du Feu ? Ks 7 White Line,' created in 2021, is a new work by the artist making its auction debut. Works by major modern and contemporary artists such as Jang Uk-jin’s 1960 piece 'Boat and Fish,' which shows his unique humor and innocence in form, and Oh Yoon’s 'Chunmuin Chumui,' notable for its high level of completion in the depiction of background and figures, will also find new owners.

The exhibited works can be viewed free of charge from the 17th until the auction day on the 27th at the 5th and 6th floors and the basement 4th floor of the Seoul Auction Gangnam Center.

A special docent program linked to the auction will be held offline at 2 p.m. on the 18th and 25th at the Seoul Auction Gangnam Center. Participation in the docent program is limited to those who apply in advance. Applications can be made through the link page shared on Seoul Auction’s Instagram and other SNS channels.

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