Estimate
TWD 3,800,000-5,500,000
HKD 987,000-1,429,000
USD 126,000-182,300
CNY 864,000-1,250,000
Sold Price
TWD 4,320,000
HKD 1,104,859
USD 140,900
CNY 997,691
Signature
Dated lower right 94
PROVENANCE
Tomio Koyama Gallery, Tokyo
ILLUSTRATED
Yoshitomo Nara: The Complete Works Volume2, Chronicle Books LLC, San Francisco, 2011, color illustrated, p. 73
+ OVERVIEW
"Untitled" by Yoshitomo Nara depicts the momentary expression of a little girl through simple imagery and distinct contours. The round bubblegum breaks the single composition, while the bright blue color adds liveliness to the entire painting. This work marks a departure from the artist's tense mindset during his time in Germany, characterized by vigilance, confusion, and helplessness, and depicts the artist's solo wandering in a foreign land. It was during this year after graduation that Nara began to reexamine himself. During his period of study abroad, Yoshitomo Nara's strong sense of loneliness served as a source of inspiration for his artwork. His works reflect a strong sense of self awareness and often portray multiple anxieties. However, in this particular piece, a girl chewing gum and blowing a big bubble, the child's image stands quietly in the center with closed eyes, revealing a sense of calm and composure between the eyebrows, as if everything around her is irrelevant and she is unfazed by worldly affairs. With eyes closed, she lets go of all her defenses and faces everything calmly. The rhythmic atmosphere in the painting conveys a sense of tranquility and a peaceful mind. After graduation, Nara's career as a professional artist truly began as he wandered between Eastern and Western visual cultures.
Select: Modern & Contemporary Art
Ravenel Spring Auction 2023
Saturday, June 3, 2023, 4:00pm