Oil on canvas

65 x 81 cm. 25 1/2 x 31 3/4 in.

Signed in Chinese and English, dated on bottom right; titled, signed in English and Chinese, dated on the reverse

LITERATURE
2007, Solo Exhibition of Chu Teh-Chun, Thin Chang Corporation, Taipei, p. 330
EXHIBITED
23 Jun – 10 Jul 2007, Solo Exhibition of Chu Teh-Chun, the Ueno Royal Museum, Tokyo

PROVENANCE
27 Nov 2005, Christie's Hong Kong Autumn Auction, Lot 226
Important Private Collection, Asia

When Imagination Flies High, Brushwork Shines Bright
A Witness to the Transformation: Navigation Imaginaire by Chu Teh-Chun

“I derive inspiration from universe, nature, people, and both Chinese and Western cultures, and render what I observe poetically. Creation just naturally follows. As the Taoists said, I paint to 'express my mind and soul'.”
—Chu Teh-Chun

Hegel once said, “the best artistic creation is imagination.” It is a spontaneous process for Chu The-Chun to use his imagination to capture nature and attend to all the living things. His works incorporate his profound reflections on the wax and wane of nature and the joy and anger of life. In 1999, he became the first ethnic Chinese member of the Académie des Beaux-Arts of France. At the height of his career, he started to have more insights on how calligraphy can bring out the intricate interplay of light. Finished in 2002, Navigation Imaginaire present at this auction is an artwork in his later years that shows his wild imagination and time-tested confidence.

Witness to China's Resurgence
At the invitation of Shanghai Grand Theatre, Chu created the oversized painting Revival of the Melody to celebrate its 5th anniversary in 2002. Impressed by the fresh look of Shanghai, Chu expressed his best wishes for the country through the painting. Navigation Imaginaire (Lot 90) was finished in the same year when his works were highly sought-after both at home and overseas. The title of the painting is aligned with his pursuit of imagination in the creation process and shows his yearning for freedom.

Calligraphy as the Sidekick
Navigation Imaginaire adopts a hub-and-spoke composition, enhancing the sense of depth and generating exceptional visual effect. The mixture of vermilion, lemon yellow and teal paint at the center looks like a gem hidden deep inside a cave. In contrast with the bouncy mixture, the big strokes of ochre and dark green paint exhibit grandeur, while not lacking vivacity. This work also shows Chu's excellent brush control and his mastery of calligraphy techniques thanks to his practice since childhood. His strokes may remind viewers of the Feibai script style. Starting from the center, he pressed the brush decisively and then moved it around smoothly and quickly, like “flying dragon and dancing phoenix” in the Chinese metaphor. Chu's imagination in full gear generates the momentum as strokes build up on one another and puts in place a poetic presentation that looks like a foggy day illuminated by lightning strikes that blur the boundaries between night and day.

Chu managed to transmute his passion for life to creative artworks that can unlock viewers' imagination, and the painting itself is also a witness to the ongoing convergence of Chinese and Western art styles and people's positive expectations for the future.

Price estimate:
HKD: 1,600,000 – 2,600,000
USD: 204,000 – 331,500

Auction Result:
HKD: 2,006,000