Oil on canvas

137 × 229 cm. 53 7/8 x 90 1/8 in.

Signed in English and dated on the reverse
PROVENANCE
Collection of American diplomat Mrs. Llewellyn Thompson
Collection of American lawyer firm Covington & Burling
O.K. Harris Works of Art Gallery, New York
Private Collection, Asia

Note: This work is attached with a label from New York O.K. Harris Works of Art Gallery on the reverse

Spray Gun: a Unique Replacement of the Brush
The Art of Han Hsiang-ning
Han Hsiang-ning was born in Chongqing in 1939. He graduated from Taiwan Normal University in 1961 and joined the Fifth Moon Group, an important Taiwanese avant-garde association. He tried different techniques and media, striving to break the limitations of painting only with brushes and canvas. For example, in 1963, he first used a roller instead of a brush. After moving to New York in 1967, he further experimented with an airbrush, and he created his famous Extreme Light series by incorporating inkjet with Pointillism and Photorealism. Starting in 1971, he engaged in the creation of a large number of paintings with the landmark architecture of his residence city as the main theme. The strong personal characteristics of his paintings helped him to gain popularity in New York, and in 1976, he was one of the three Chinese artists, alongside Nam June Paik and Ieoh Ming Pei, to show their works during Bicentennial : Artist-Immigrants of America. This exhibition was organized by the Smithsonian Institute’s Hirshhorn Museum in Washington to honor the bicentennial of the founding of the United States. From 1971 to 1982, he held four solo exhibitions at the O.K. Harris Gallery in New York, which featured his Photorealist works. During this time, he was also invited to participate in joint exhibitions at the Museum of the City of New York , the Brooklyn Museum, and the Whitney Museum of American Art.
The Most Beautiful Skyline Scenery
Featured in this auction is Executive Office Building Washington DC, one of the masterpieces of Han’s Views of Washington DC series. The building in the painting was erected in 1871, and it served as an office building for presidents and vice presidents. At that time, it was one of the largest office buildings in the world and still is one of the most beautiful features of Washington’s city layout. Han did not depict the entire building but painted a close-up view from a low-angle perspective, as if using a telescope to view the front and roof of the building from a distance. He used a spray gun instead of a brush and sprayed acrylic paint layer by layer to create a detailed depiction. A large number of color dots float in the air, making up all of the lines and surfaces. As he did not directly paint any lines, the artist’s creativity and meticulousness inspire awe in the eyes of viewers. In the center of the screen, the American flag flutters in the blue sky, and the sun shines in from the right, bringing warmth to the picture. Overall, the work praises the prosperity and well-being of the American people, showing a true spirit of optimism. As at that time Han was highly recognized by art circles, perhaps this painting was also a portrayal of his mood. This work was originally collected by the well-known American law firm Covington & Burling, so its appearance on the market is quite the rare opportunity.

Price estimate:
HKD: 120,000 - 180,000
USD: 15,400 - 23,100

Auction Result:
HKD: 141,600