The Diaspora in Modern Chinese Ink Painting

08/05/2019     Chiswick Curates, Asian Art

The 20th Century was a time of great transformation in the field of Chinese ink painting when exciting developments reinvigorated and transformed the traditional medium. Our Fine Chinese Painting sale on Monday 20th May contains a number of works which map the contribution of the Chinese diaspora – artists who left China, mainly in the 1940s.

 

Lot 68. XIONG BINGMING (Hsiung Ping-Ming, 1922 – 2002) Snow Scene ink on paper, framed 30.5 x 22cm. Provenance: English Private Collection. Estimate: £2,000-3,000

 

Lot 69. XIONG BINGMING (Hsiung Ping-Ming, 1922 – 2002) Dressing Table woodblock print on red paper, framed 20.5 x 14.3cm. Provenance: English Private Collection. Estimate: £300-500


 

Many artists travelled to Europe and introduced Western influences into their work. One such artist was Hsiung Ping-Ming who alongside Wu Guangzhong studied in Paris on a government scholarship in 1947 and remained there for the rest of his life. Whilst primarily known as a sculptor, his ink and woodblock prints are influenced by the Parisian environment.

 

Lot 63. LÜ SHOUKUN (Lui Shou Kwan, 1919-1975) Abstract Landscape Chinese ink and colour on paper, framed painting 47 x 37cm. Provenance: English private collection, acquired from Geoffrey Barker. Estimate: £2,000-3,000

 

Lot 61. LÜ SHOUKUN (Lui Shou Kwan, 1919-1975) Abstract Landscape ink and colour on paper, hanging scroll 46 x 46cm. Provenance: from the collection of photographer and director Hugh Gibb (1915 – 1990). Estimate: £3,000 – 5,000

Lot 62. LÜ SHOUKUN (Lui Shou Kwan, 1919-1975) Abstract Landscape ink and colour on paper, unmounted dated 1969 137 x 69cm. Provenance: from the collection of photographer and director Hugh Gibb (1915 – 1990). Estimate: £8,000-12,000


 

In Hong Kong, Lui Shou Kwan explored abstract expressionism through his works and Luis Chan introduced depictions of contemporary figures into his figurative art. We are lucky to have a number of works by these artists in the sale. Their contributions are now being re-evaluated with a Lui Shou Kwan centenary exhibition at the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford and an exhibition of the work of Luis Chan running until June 2019 at the Shanghai Modern Art Museum.

Lot 64. LÜ SHOUKUN (Lui Shou Kwan, 1919-1975) Grapes ink and colour on paper, unmounted 45 x 47cm. Provenance: Brazilian private collection, acquired at the 8th Sao Paulo Biennale, Brazil in 1965. Estimate: £2,000-3,000

 

Lot 65. CHEN FUSHAN (Luis Chan, 1905 – 1995). Ladies. ink and colour on paper, framed 18 x 20.5cm. Provenance: English private collection, acquired directly from the artist in Hong Kong circa 1986. Estimate: £2,000-3,000

 



Cheong Soo Pieng (1917 – 1983) moved to Hong Kong in 1945 and thence to Singapore, where he began to produce watery landscapes of the style of a number of lots in the current sale. Taiwanese artist Lo Ch'ing moved to Taiwan in 1949 and is known for his contributions to Modern poetry as well as his innovations in ink painting.

 

Lot 66. ZHONG SIBIN (Cheong Soo Pieng, 1917 – 1983) Boats on the Water ink and colour on paper, framed signed Soo Pieng, dated 1961 43.5 x 62.5cm. Estimate:£3,000-5,000

 

Lot 66. ZHONG SIBIN (Cheong Soo Pieng, 1917 – 1983) Boats on the Water ink and colour on paper, framed signed Soo Pieng, dated 1961 43.5 x 62.5cm. Estimate:£3,000-5,000



Fine Chinese Paintings, 20th May at 10am GMT 

Chiswick Auctions is the only saleroom to offer sales dedicated to Chinese ink paintings and has a track record of bringing important Classical and 20th Century works to market. The May sale offers works from important Western Private collections including works connected to British royalty and aristocracy, and from the collections of diplomats, writers and artists. The vast majority of the works have never before been offered for sale in auction. They include classical works attributed to LU JI (follower of circa 1475 – 1503), an Imperially inscribed DAI XI (1801 – 1860) landscape, a calligraphic work by CHIANG KAI-SHEK (1887 – 1975), work by literary figures including LIN SHU (1852 – 1924) and ZHOU ERFU (1914 – 2004)