Oil, acrylic, ink and Swarovski crystal on canvas

130 x 97 cm. 51 1/8 × 38 1/4 in.

Signed in Hanja and English and dated on the fop of the canvas edge
PROVENANCE
Metaphysical Art Gallery, Taipei
Acquired directly by present important private Asian collector from the above

This work is accompanied by a certificate of authenticity signed by the artist issued by Metaphysical Art Gallery, Taipei

Warmth in a Lonely World
Eddie Kang and His Bears

Born in Seoul, Korea in 1980, Eddie Kang has been inspired and nurtured by art since he was a child and often visited art museums with his mother, who loved to paint. After graduating from secondary school, he attended the animation program at the Rhode Island School of Design in the United States. After completing his education, he started his new career as an independent artist. Cartoon-inspired, but not limited to flat surfaces, he frequently incorporates multi-media figures and crystal stickers into paintings, blurring the line between two and three dimensions to demonstrate his ingenuity.

The experience of moving around in a busy metropolis has made it ineritable for Eddie Kang to say goodbye to the people and things he holds dear. In order to combat his loneliness, he has created several animated characters, including Karma the bear, Loveless the dog, and Bubbles the pink bear. In 2018, Eddie Kang was invited to be the global featured artist for the renowned fashion brand MCM, where he introduces his characters to the fashion world and become a critical darling. For this autumn sale, we present Karma I, completed in 2010. It is the third largest painting by the artist to date at the auction venue, and its combination of classic vocabulary is invaluable.

A Colourful Embrace in a Black and White City

In the background of Karma I, Eddie Kang uses dense black lines to outline a pile of robots that fills the canvas impermeably, like a psychedelic black-and-white vortex. With their hollow eyes and dense lines of varying thicknesses, they symbolize the urban network of steel and concrete, through which the artist conveys the social atmosphere of a crowded but aloof city. Such mechanized cities are a defining characteristic of Eddie Kang's work, and his artistic language can be observed in his 2018 crossover collaboration with MCM.

At the centre of the scene, Eddie Kang employs colourful, minimalist lines to create an interlocking ensemble of adorable, brilliantly glowing characters. Karma, the golden bear, stretches out its arms, grins, and displays its playful canines as if to give the viewer a warm embrace. Even though it has just mended its pink wounds, it exudes fearless warmth, illuminating the city with a circle of pink and green light that emanates from the centre, defying the black-and-white world with its extreme hues. Behind Karma's back, the pink bear Bubbles, the white dog Loveless, and the red Storyteller can be seen with their hands outstretched and mischievously hiding behind them with their eyes wide open, as if they are playing hide-and-seek or greeting each other in shy but friendly manner, actively building communication bridges. With their bright colours and simple images, these adorable characters convey the memories and aspirations of Eddie Kang's inner circle, infusing a lonely city with a touch of warmth and optimism. As the light source and viewing angle change, the crystals reflect a shimmering light, lending three-dimensional depth to the flat works. The works demonstrate the artist's cross-media and cross-plane artistic practice and are brimming with positive inspiration.

Price estimate:
HKD 50,000 – 100,000
USD 6,400 – 12,800