Ink on paper

182.5 x 178 cm. 71 7/8 x 70 in.

One artist’s seal on bottom right
LITERATURE
1998, Yu-ichi INOUE Catalogue Raisonné of the Works Vol.3 1977-1985, Unac Tokyo Co. Ltd, Tokyo, pl. 22002

EXHIBITED
1990, 1990 Exhibition of Yuichi Inoue Unpublished Artworks, Japan
1991, Yuichi Inoue Exhibiton—Circle, Azabu Museum of Arts and Crafts, Tokyo

PROVENANCE
Private Collection, Japan

This work is attached with an inscription by Unagi Masaomi with one seal

Delusion, aversion, joy, and anger—the writing is the life
The grand art world of Yuichi Inoue.
Born to an ordinary family in Tokyo, Japan in 1916, Yuichi Inoue was fond of painting and calligraphy since childhood. While it was the rich's privilege to study art for the high expense of materials, Yuichi went to the National Normal University which he could afford and after that became an art teacher in a primary school. In 1945, at the suggestion of the headmaster, he turned to the study of calligraphy. Through the material of ink, Yuichi wielded his brush in a unique painting style to express the delusion, aversion, joy, and anger in life, unreserved and hearty.
As the representative of the post-war modern calligraphy artist in Japan, Yuichi's vision and span of calligraphy as an art form have exceeded the classical expectation of beauty to please the eyes and mind, breaking the boundaries of painting and pushing it further with his own practice. In 1957, Yuichi's artwork exhibited in São Paulo Art Biennial for the first time, one of three most prestigious contemporary art events besides Venice Biennial and documenta, making his debut together with the then high-profile artists like Jackson Pollock, Hans Hartung, and Pierre Soulages. The modern calligraphy originated from the east was, henceforth, brought into the global stream of avant-garde and visionary contemporary art.
Confront the Ancient: Zen Spirit of a Samurai
In 1978, Yuichi was diagnosed with cirrhosis. Knowing that his days were numbered, the artist started a series of calligraphy replica projects, through which he tried to get the connection with ancient masters and further explore his artistic path. The work, Bukkokushi-ge, is one of the representatives from this period. Bukkokushi was an eminent Song monk in ancient China and studied in Japan during the Sengoku period. He then took up the post of the abbot in Kenchoji Temple, Kamakura, spreading the seeds of Zen philosophy, which has become the “non-religion religion” to Japanese samurai. Bukkokushi-ge, at the hands of Yuichi Inoue, presents the precept by which Mugaku Sogen （Bukkokushi） dispersed a ferocious Yuan soldier: “I did a comprehensive study to seek the real universe, and finally got the answer. That is to say； all is vanity. People are vanity, and even Buddha's teachings are vanity. Now, I am spiritually awakened, and so, even if you want to kill me with your huge sword, I don't mind. I already know that I am vanity. This means when you swing your sword, you will just cut through a spring wind.” Deep in the content lies the Zen spirit of the artist at his sixties.
Reincarnation: the Spiritual Exploration of a Great Awakening.
Another work presented in this auction season is Circle, created in the same year of Bukkokushi-ge, originally paying tribute to the eminent Song monk, Enni Ben'en, and then developed into a whole series. The artist wielded his brush on large-scale paper to his heart's content. The structure encircled by the outer square resembles the character Hin （poverty） frequently practiced in the early years, which conveys the artist's thoughts out from decades of art creation and portrays his life of a great awakening. Different from the sharp and unrestrained.

Price estimate:
HKD: 300,000 - 380,000
USD: 38,200 - 48,400

Auction Result:
HKD : 472,000