Lot 67
Movements of the City
George CHANN (Chinese-American, 1913 - 1995)
1980-1989
Oil on canvas, collage
141 x 133 cm
Estimate
TWD 5,200,000-7,200,000
HKD 1,333,300-1,846,200
USD 179,300-248,300
Sold Price
TWD 5,192,000
HKD 1,332,649
USD 170,761
EXHIBITED:
George Chann Solo Exhibition, Lin & Keng Gallery, Taipei, July 10-21, 2004
George Chann, Shanghai Art Museum, Shanghai, July 19-31, 2005
ILLUSTRATED:
George Chann, Lin & Keng Gallery, Taipei, 2004, invitation card cover
George Chann, Lin & Keng Gallery, Taipei, 2005, color illustrated, p. 133
+ OVERVIEW
Most of the early Chinese abstract painters have their skills developed over sea, George Chann who had settled in the United States is one of them, his abstract painting style were established after his realistic practices. During that time, the 50s, abstract art already had their history and developments in both United States and Europe; however, Chann's living experiences in China during 1947 to 1950 has added extra unique characters to his abstract paintings. In his paintings, he also discussed and presented Chinese cultural elements such as inscriptions on bones or tortoise shells, calligraphy and the book of stone rubbings by taking an undefined route.
"Movements of the City" was finished in 1980, as the title of this piece implies, those bright yellow brush strokes, no matter they are symbols or not, carry a meaning, a message. Just like Cy Twombly tells those great mythology stroke by stroke on the canvas, Chann painted those visual rhythms in his heart with passion, such as the longing for the city of the old days, or an ancient one which passed on human civilizations. This kind of narrative property has made his abstract paintings having a will of carrying, they also tell the original intention of the things which the artist wanted to do, as well as the mildness within his characteristics.
The 20th & 21st Century Chinese Art Japanese & Korean Contemporary Art
Ravenel Spring Auction 2008
Sunday, June 1, 2008, 12:00am