Gold leaf on Japanese paper

46 x 38 cm. 18 1/8 x 15 in.

Signed and titled in English， dated on artist’s label on the reverse
PROVENANCE
Private Collection, Asia

Revolutionizing Existence
I want to erase all fixed names and concepts in order to reveal my subjects in their most authentic and natural state.
—Nobuo Sekine
Nobuo Sekine is a leading figure of the “Mono-ha” art movement in 1960s Japan. Sekine's works challenge the materialistic worldview of modern society by exploring the underlying essence of things. He considers the original state of an object to be its most beautiful. Therefore, in his work, he refuses to add unnecessary subjective embellishments. Instead, his works merge raw spaces, substances and concepts together, encouraging people to reflect on the meaning of their existence.
This work, entitled Phase Conception, No. G8-34, Border of Ellipse, was completed in 1988. The artist has superposed gold leaf and paper to create a unique visual effect and render a three-dimensional scene as a minimalist two-dimensional image. At the same time, in the middle of this image, he has created a three-dimensional rectangular space. The black border is like an infinite void of darkness, while the chaotic scratchings on the surface of the gold leaf create layers of depth. The artist has a unique conceptualization of space and a freeform approach to rendering subject matter, and through this artwork, he managed to create a distinct physical plane that challenges traditional notions of existence.

Price estimate:
HKD: 60,000 - 80,000
USD: 7,600 - 10,200

Auction Result:
HKD : 70,800