Acrylic on canvas

150×120 cm 59×47 1/4 in

LITERATURE
2014, Hsiao Chin.Eternal Energy, Lotus Art Gallery, Kaohsiung, p.35
PROVENANCE
Private collection， Asia

Humanbeings should try to attain infinite energy and exploration beyond the limited space， enter the intangible world beyond time， to study and understand the significance of life. For me， I show this concept with my paintings.
—— Hsiao Chin

As a pioneer of the Taiwanese modern abstract art and one of the founders of “Ton-Fan Group”， Hsiao Chin started a further exploration of abstract paintings since 1950s， adhering to the core value of “the pursuit of modern expressionism， incorporation of the oriental essence”， and developing his personalized artistic form and creative vision. He was born in Shanghai in 1935， and his father is the renowned musician Hsiao You-mei. After his parents passed away during the war， Hsiao Chin traveled to Taiwan with his uncle， and studied calligraphy after the Father of Taiwanese Modernism Li Chungsheng. In the year 1956， Hsiao Chin pursued further education in Spain and received the direct influence from the movement of western modern art. Encouraged by Li Chungsheng， he founded Ton-Fan Group， together with Hsia Yan and Ho Kan， to become the critical pioneer of the first avant-garde movement of the “Modern Taiwanese Western Art”. In 1959， Hsiao Chin migrated to Milan and with Lucia Fontana， he initiated the “Punto Art Movement”. Its impact flourished the whole Europe， and also gained positive feedbacks after the exhibition in Taipei. Since 1957， Hsiao Chin has held solo exhibitions around the globe， and was conferred the honorable title of “Knight of Italian Solidarity Star”. In recent years， he was also invited by major art institutions such as the National Museum of History in Taipei， Alisan Fine Arts in Hong Kong and the National Art Museum of China to give retrospective exhibitions， and to create more opportunities for overseas Chinese to learn about the profound connotation behind the artwork.
“Chi No.81”
The Communion of Zen and Chi
The work Chi No.81 was created in 1979， when the artist experimented on the ink creation of Zen and Chi. It is out of the artist’s impromptu impulse to apply the orange hue to the sun. With relaxing and free hand strokes， the improvised traces of ink release the artist’s emotion. Hsiao Chin chooses the simplest and metaphysic shapes to conceal his understanding about life – From intensity to simplicity， following his heart. The work was gifted to a Brazilian friend during the artist’s solo at AMNiemeyer Gallery in Rio De Janeiro in 1986. At the back of the painting， the artist also signed as a souvenir. It is a significant occasion to witness its auction sale after over 40 years.
“The Universe of Love”
The Great Love and Wisdom of the Universe
In 1990， Hsiao Chin suffered the grief of losing his daughter， “Samantha passed away. I was fully aware that she implied to me by ‘walking into the infinity’ that the eternal new life does not exist at this time and in this world， but it is on the other shore when crossing the boundary of living and death. It is my redemption from the extreme sorrow.” If losing the most beloved is the no escape doom for the artist， the time when he retook his brush， Hsiao realized the unpredictable and eternal nature of life. This work The Universe of Love No.2 was created in 2009， particularly shadowed by misfortunes in his life， out of the reflection and devotion of the artist. The bluish violet background illustrates the mysteriousness of night and the incomplete circling composition of sky blue and red. The sky and earth are separated， resembling the two sides of Yin and Yang， telling the endless loop of life， time and space. The golden flakes scattered around the two poles， looks like the setting sunshine from yesterday， embellishing the miraculous brightness of life with glory. As a butterfly gets reborn from a cocoon， the artist suffered a similar pain by living through the ripples in his life. The painting “The Universe of Love No.2” also represents the new mental realm of the artist， instilled the rich and screened emotion out of wounds.

Price estimate:
HKD: 450,000 – 650, 000
USD: 57,700 – 83,300

Auction Result:
HKD: 531,000