Lot  264 Ravenel Spring Auction 2016 Taipei

Ravenel Spring Auction 2016 Taipei

Give Me a Rainbow

Walasse TING (Chinese-American, 1929 - 2010)

1979

Acrylic on canvas

102 x 127 cm

Estimate

TWD 8,000,000-9,000,000

HKD 1,900,000-2,138,000

USD 245,100-275,700

Sold Price

TWD 7,200,000

HKD 1,722,488

USD 221,675


Signature

Signed on the reverse Ting in English, titled Give me a Rainbow in English, dated 79
PROVENANCE :
Bruun Rasmussen Auction, Denmark, Jun 12, 2012, lot 787

+ OVERVIEW

With canvases encompassed by dazzling diversities of brilliant colors, and an expertise in a variety of styles in female nudes, Walasse Ting is indeed an exceptional figure within the scope of Chinese art. He had traveled extensively throughout Europe and America, and was deeply inspired by the contemporary avant-garde art trends of the time, including CoBrA and abstract expressionism, all of which contributed to his unique artistic vocabulary.

Ting had spent his entire lifetime in the pursuit of female beauty. He attracted the viewer’s attention with vividly colored portrayals of gorgeous feminine bodies in paintings that are direct manifestations of his excessively romantic nature, while the women he portrayed evince a charm and delicacy like the resplendent, ambrosial blossoms of springtime. “Give Me a Rainbow” is a signature work the artist painted during his years in New York. The liberal, unrestrained artistic atmosphere of the era later played a major role in the formulation of Ting’s distinctive personal style. Thence, his paintings transitioned from abstract to figurative art, and his state of mind underwent drastic transformations as he began to devote himself to a lifelong passion for female portrait painting. Outlined with bold, confident brushstrokes, this painting demonstrates the artist’s expert deftness complemented by an unruly sense of assurance—a freedom and spontaneity characteristic of Fauvism artworks. The woman in the painting leaned comfortably on her back, her face half obscured, perfectly composed and unabashed as she displays her feminine beauty. In the background, powerful splashes and drippings of hue invoke the influence of abstract expressionism while blending perfectly into the chunks of highly saturated colors. The boundless creative energy and streaming vitality that burst forth is moreover a succinct and powerful statement of Ting’s extraordinary artistic expression, and imbues the artwork with an air of delighted bliss.

“Give Me a Rainbow” accompanies the viewer on a splendid and carefree journey of magnificent color. Ting provides a feast for the senses that is both bedazzling and brimming with stunning visual impact. While the artwork is highly decorative, it also conveys a delightful and enjoyable emotional ambiance. By the time this painting was created, the artist was already able to unleash his talents however he pleased, to paint freely without restraint and enjoy all the pleasures of artistic creation. Art form became of little relevance as Ting’s works revealed his natural intuition for color and enthusiastic passion for art. He expressed these inescapable sentiments openly and profusely, creating canvas after canvas of brilliant splendor.

Related Info

Modern & Contemporary Asian Art

Ravenel Spring Auction 2016 Taipei

Sunday, June 5, 2016, 2:00pm