Lot  165 Ravenel Autumn Auction 2014 Taipei

Ravenel Autumn Auction 2014 Taipei

Abstract Variations

George CHANN (Chinese-American, 1913 - 1995)

1960s

Oil on canvas, collage

135.4 x 89.7 cm

Estimate

TWD 3,000,000-4,000,000

HKD 765,000-1,020,000

USD 98,500-131,400

Sold Price

TWD 3,600,000

HKD 895,522

USD 115,644


Signature

Signed lower left GEO. CHANN in English


ILLUSTRATED:
George Chann, Lin & Keng Gallery, Taipei, 2005, color illustrated, p. 154


+ OVERVIEW

Chann's abstract paintings are rich in oriental atmosphere, which is indeed related to his background. In 1952 he ran a store Farmer's Market Art Gallery in Los Angeles, in which he did not sell his own works but Chinese artifacts such as jewelries and antiques just to earn a living. Running a business as an antique dealers, he still managed to paint for 7 hours a day. His later works were hardly seen owing to his unwillingness to work with art dealers. He refused to work on market-oriented paintings: pure abstract art was the only objective he had. Until he passed away in 1995, he has been exploring abstract art while running the small business for over 40 years.

Chann's abstract art development is divided into several stages. First is the black-and-white collection during the 1950s in which he employed Chinese characters, marks and inscriptions; colors were not used until later. Up to the 1960s characters and symbols remained, adding on material varieties such as shattered, mix-and-match, collage, paper-pasting effects. The expression during this period of time was substantial and sturdy, implying some tract of humanism decline. Later in the 1970s, Chann created colorful tapestry-like paintings that not only embodied modern cityscapes but combined the old civilization and modernism. Using techniques of action painting such as dripping and splashing, he fully illustrated the flamboyant mixture of the old and new.


Related Info

Modern & Contemporary Asian Art

Ravenel Autumn Auction 2014 Taipei

Sunday, December 7, 2014, 2:30pm