Ink on paper

36.5 × 103cm. 14 3/8 × 40 1/2 in.

Signed in Chinese on bottom left; stamped with artist's seals on upper left, bottom left, upper right and bottom right
PROVENANCE
5 Jun 2016, Ravenel Taipei Spring Auction, Lot 328
Acquired directly by present important Asian collector from the above

Dragon-like Majestic Strokes
Chu Teh-Chun's Achievement in the World of Ink

Chu Teh-Chun, a master of Chinese abstract painting, has been hailed as the Song dynasty painter of the 20th century. He has regarded Chinese poetry, ink, and calligraphy as the inexhaustible source of inspiration for his lifelong creation. Throughout his life, he has used the Chinese medium for self-expression and has utilized the layout and compositions of his oil paintings into his ink works for a distinctive artistic style. His work Untitled (Lot57), created in the 1980s, and Metz 05 No. 26 (Lot56) in 2005 are extraordinary examplars. His profound understanding of poetry is also revealed in Calligraphy——Poem by Li Yu (Lot55).

Swirling Snow in Dancing Rhythm

In 1985, on his way to Geneva, Chu Teh-Chun looked out the window as he passed through the snowy Alps, the magnificent peaks were covered in white. After he returned to Paris, Chu Teh-Chun referenced the snowscape as his main theme for his works from 1985 to 1898, creating a widely popular series. His works on paper also reflect his fusion of the snowscape theme and his fine line characteristics, such as his 1986 piece ‘Untitled'.

In Untitled, the lines between the abstract and reality are tightly intertwined, mixing bold and fine brushstrokes to create a complete masterpiece, emphasizing the beauty and fluidity of Chinese calligraphy.

Bringing Spring Back to the World

Metz 05 No. 26 is another inspirational work by the artist after nearly thirty years of the former. Metz 05 is a series of works specially created by Chu Teh-Chun for his solo exhibition at the Arsenal in Metz, France in 2005, and is therefore full of musicality. The works are like the rhythms of ancient words, which fall in a limited space with infinite melodious notes, leaving behind a song of life.

The lines of the artwork are characterized by the majestic strokes of Tang Dynasty calligraphy, and the flexible and tumultuous posture of Song Dynasty calligraphers, bringing the viewer's to the clear sky of May in France, and the mountain city of Metz, which was known as the “City of Gardens”.

Sailing through the Sea of Art

“I love Chinese poetry. They come naturally into my paintings. It is not a coincidence that Western art critics say that my work is inspired by Chinese poetry.”
—— Chu Teh-Chun

The Calligraphy presenting this time was originally composed by Li Yu, last emperor of Southern Song Dynasty, who returned to the Song Dynasty and became a prisoner. He was faced with the fact that things were no longer the same, so he wrote this piece to express his longing for his homeland. Chu Teh-Chun, who had been away from his homeland for many years, wrote this piece on a long scroll banner.

The font of the work is Chinese cursive script, but the form is laid out in the style of western paintings. The strokes run through the entire poem, and the layout shows the spirit like a painting, thus expressing the inner feelings of having experienced unexpected life changes.

Chu Teh-Chun has been living and working based on Chuang Tzu's philosophy, which is to be open-minded and calm. In the liberation of the spirit, he finally achieves “freedom” and “inaction” in the true sense, which can be seen everywhere in the three works presented here, making one cannot help but sigh: What a magnificent and impeccable beauty!

Price estimate:
HKD: 450,000 - 650,000
USD: 57,800 - 83,500

Auction Result:
HKD: 1,056,000