Oil on canvas

194 x 259 cm. 76 3/8 × 102 in.

Titled, dated, signed in English and Hanja on the right of the canvas edge
PROVENANCE
Pyo Gallery, Seoul
Acquired directly by present important private Asian collector from the above

Adorned with a Vermilion Ribbon and Carrying a Golden Seal, Absolute Order and Vitality in Chaos
The Rare and Magnificent Recurrence Series Makes a Stunning Appearance

Following in the footsteps of Nam June Paik, the most prominent modern Korean artist is Kim Tschang-Yeul, known for his waterdrop paintings, is hailed as the “Waterdrop Painter.” He learned calligraphy and Eastern philosophy from his grandfather since childhood and studied Western art at the encouragement of his mother. In 1948, he enrolled in the Fine Arts department at Seoul National University, and despite the turmoil of the Korean War, he was determined to uphold Korean contemporary art. In 1957, he co-founded the “Korean Modern Artists Association” with artists such as Park Seo-bo and Chung Chang-sup. He later received support from the Rockefeller Foundation to study at the Art Student League in New York. After moving to France in 1969, he developed his most iconic “water drop” themed paintings in 1972. Kim believed that pure and transparent water droplets could wash away the anger, sadness, and injustice felt in everyday life, and the process of painting was like spiritual practice, which brought him peace and comfort through introspection. Drawing on his own culture background, he introduced Eastern philosophy into his artwork, promoting the essence of Eastern culture in the European artworld. From 1972 to 1976, he was invited to participate in the Salon de Mai in France five times. In 2004, he was awarded the highest rank, “Commandeur” of Ordre des Arts et des Lettres, from the French Ministry of Culture, highlighting his solid position in the art world.

In the early 1980s, Kim took his “water drop” paintings to the next level by combining the classic Southern Dynasties Chinese document Thousand Character Classic. He stated, “Chinese characters are endless and everlasting. Thousand Character Classic was the first text I learned as a child, so it always holds a special place in my heart, and it can carry my waterdrops and accompany them.” Thus, the Recurrence series was born. For nearly 40 years, he meticulously depicted the bold strokes of the “regular script” in Thousand Character Classic with shimmering water drops that refract a dazzling light, internalizing pure energy within. Water drops and Thousand Character Classic accompanied Kim throughout his life and traversed nearly a hundred exhibitions across Europe, America, and Asia. They have been included in the public collections of more than 40 institutions, including the Kim Tschang-Yeul Museum, the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art in South Korea, the Centre Pompidou in Paris, the Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum in Japan, and the Boston Museum of Fine Arts in the United States. The Recurrence presented in this autumn auction is the seventh largest dimension witnessed by Kim Tschang-Yeul and the largest among the nine rare red colour painting works, highlighting its significance and rarity.

Thousand Characters Express the Truth, Drops Overflow with Light

The Recurrence Series predominantly features a grand scarlet red as its principal colour. Within traditional Korean folklore, this colour symbolizes the embodiment of “life and power,” as it originates from the colour of the sun, representing the ability to resist evil and dispel darkness. Kim deliberately chooses this palette to construct his competition, evoking the imagery of the universe bursting forth from chaos, radiating brilliance and warmth, and imbuing all things with life. This vermillion colour carries the belief in the immense energy of the universe within the East Asian cultural sphere. By filling the canvas with a scarlet base and creating an eye-catching contrast with the blank spaces, the artist has crafted a bold and powerful “regular script” that appears to emerge from the water's surface, much like a dignified seal stamp dipped in ink and pressed down with solemnity. The softly blended deep red colour adheres to the edges of the characters, enhancing their three-dimensionality. The orderly and forceful large characters possess a magical power of faith, sequentially leaping out as the viewer browses, conveying the complete meaning of the text from the birth of the universe out of chaos to the creation of the sun, moon, and the four seasons, addressing the origin of life as water transforms from clouds into rivers, lakes, seas, and mist. The circulation of water brings forth a prosperous and abundant life, upon which human civilization is established. The wise sayings of the ancients are etched into the mind, particularly touching the heartstrings.

Above Thousand Character Classic, brilliant hyper-realistic waterdrops slowly seep out, some are round and transparent, glistening like pearls, others naturally falling on the verge of dripping. The fleeting drops flow over the ancient characters, reflecting the fleeting shadows of history. In the balance between the dynamics and stillness, the painting exudes the subtle poetic and philosophical essence of East Asian philosophy. Kim's waterdrops define themselves through light and shadow: the entire painting shows the waterdrops a translucent brilliance coming from the upper right, projecting a neat golden-red light and shadow to the lower left, defining the consistency of light and showcasing an orderly rhythm. It echoes the cosmic rule of “moving from chaos to order” in Thousand Character Classic, harmonious yet powerful. This work demonstrates Kim's devout and meditative creative spirit, resembling Buddhist rituals, symbolizing the ultimate tranquillity he finds within the gaps of time. Observing it quietly, one feels as if they can also trace the protection of his spirit and enter the realm of unity between heaven and man through the purification of the soul.

Price estimate:
HKD 1,250,000 – 1,900,000
USD 160,300 – 243,600