Lot 103
Young Girl-Chasing dreams
Michell HWANG (HWANG Ming-che) (Taiwanese, 1948)
1985
Oil on canvas
114 x 117 cm
Estimate
TWD 1,640,000-2,460,000
HKD 400,000-600,000
USD 51,300-76,900
Sold Price
TWD 1,641,739
HKD 377,600
USD 48,723
Signature
ILLUSTRATED:
Michell Hwang, Shanghai Art Museum, Shanghai, 2001, color illustrated, p. 58EXHIBITED:
Michell Hwang, Shanghai Art Museum, Shanghai, 2001+ OVERVIEW
Back in the 80's, Michell Hwang ended his sojourn in Europe and returned to Taiwan. The feeling of unanchored alienation from being abroad was replaced with the conident familiarity of being at home. Now no longer tainted with the damp fog of England, his existence is devoted to the strength of geometry. From the artist's works of this period it can be seen that characters often have claw-like toes and weirdly open hands; this points to the development of later works, and the "expressions" implicit in the hands and feet are key to the tension hidden within the characters as expressed by the artist.
This work, "Young Girl-Chasing Dream" depicts the main character realistically, being faithful and sensitive to each line and stroke, and emphasizing the important visual aspects of the character. However, what is more worthy of attention is the character's attire; from within the deep blue vibrant colors emerge and spring forth, existing under endless layers of alteration, covering and reshaping. Evidently, while remaining true to the form of the girl, the artist is seeking to abandon some previously acquired proiciency..
Modern & Contemporary Asian Art
Ravenel Autumn Auction 2008 Hong Kong
Monday, December 1, 2008, 12:00am