Oil on canvas

81×60.5 cm 31 7/8×23 7/8 in

Signed in English and dated on bottom left
PROVENANCE
Important private collection， AsiaAn Alternative Path
to Calligraphic Abstract
The Pioneer of Chinese Abstract Art： John Way
Wei Yuetang was born into a Shanghainese family of scholars. He studied calligraphy after Li Zhongqian since the age of ten， and later researched into oracle and epigraphic scripts and seal carving， which laid his solid foundation of Chinese traditional culture， and planted the seed for his adoption of both Chinese calligraphy and the western avant-garde art. In 1956， he immigrated to the US， where he followed the trend of Abstract Expressionism by devoting himself to the abstract painting creation. This experience has made him one of the pioneers of contemporary oversea Chinese artists who first experimented on abstract art. Wei is inspired by the Chinese epigraphic calligraphy and embodies his artwork with the western Abstract Expressionism， to create an unparalleled art form of “calligraphic abstract” which is hardly mimicked by others.
The two works on sale Abstract （lot 831） and Rhythm of Neon （lot 830） are typical examples which present the artist’s seamless integration of the hues from French Impressionism， the composition of the American Abstract Expressionism and the artistic conception of Chinese calligraphy. Abstract is a mature piece created in the 1980s with powerful large strokes and ink lines， which extend over the canvas to form a similar landscape of splashes of ink. The artist adjusted his wrist strength to control the movement of the oil colors， by pursuing speed and heaviness， to fully reveal the lasting charm of calligraphy “start， write， twist and finish”.
The artist boldly chose the bright yellow and red as the background. This choice represents the freedom and openness in the western culture， apart from the energy and vividness of abstract art， also attaches a 3D sensation to the painting. The work Rhythm of Neon was created by Wei when he was over 80 years old. In the painting， the artist makes good use of the transparent quality of watercolors to render a background featuring gradual changes of bright hues. The application of white instead of the traditional ink black is rarely found elsewhere， meanwhile it connotes the “blank-leaving” tradition in Chinese calligraphy. Different from the character based traditional calligraphy which has inspired Wei’s early creation， this painting features single strokes of a similar shape， and focuses on the essence and artistic concept in traditional grassy script， to well present the artist’s constant innovation and individual artistic pursuit.

Price estimate:
HKD: 60,000 – 100,000
USD: 7,700 – 12,800

Auction Result:
HKD: --