ZHONG CHENG

  • Zhong Cheng 2015 Autumn Auction「Morden And Contemporary Art」
    • Download

    173

    CHIU YATSAI (1949-2013)

    Professor

    1992

    Oil on Canvas
    130x97cm

    Signed Chiu Ya-Tsai in Chinese, dated 1992

    Estimate TWD 2,400,000-3,200,000
    USD 74,300-99,100
    HKD 0-0

    Hammer Price TWD 2,880,000
    USD 87,565
    HKD 674,473

Provenance：

Illustrated：

Exhibition：

Exposition：

Possessing dual identities, Chiu Ya-Tsai was both an author and artist. Regardless of which identity, he began his artistic interpretation by studying “people”. Under the influence of ancient Tang dynasty, Chiu inherited the drawing style of classical elegance. At an early age he read works by Shakespeare, Dostoyevsky, and other great masters, through literature he discovered the value of existence, and thus opened his observation for “people”. Between the real and the surreal level of humanity, all kinds of people have made their appearance in his work. He painted people that were elegant, blue, humble, confident, and even lonely; through appearance he reveals the inner monologue of an artist’s life. Chiu once said, “Painting is symbolic to my explanation of life’s meanings, the brush is my tool for self-expression, which expresses my complex inner depression and lonely relations with people”

A change from the usual dark backgrounds, a warm brown pigment generates a gentle and pure atmosphere. The dignified professor sits in the center of the canvas, showing extraordinary momentum and literati temperament that spreads throughout the entire painting. Unrestricted by time and conventional art education, Chiu Ya-Tsai perfectly captures the confidence and pride of the professor. The artist’s keen awareness of “people” enables him to convey delicate unspoken emotions; revealing grace through simple lines and forms. He is very experienced in drawing techniques and often paid careful attention to the curves of each and every line. Chiu’s paintings are quick to grasp the viewers’ attention with astonishment. The figure occupies majority of the painting, leaving behind a simple refined background, discarding all additional distraction, and decoration motifs. Thus, his drawing lines appeared thicker, and further emphasize the subject of the figure. The professor’s face conveys calmness with gaze looking afar, beneath the unengaged appearance is a man of experience, well-temper and a passionate heart. Professor created in late 1990s, towards the mid-late stage of the artist’s life. Paintings from this period are more distinct in individual style, and with experiences come with less hesitation in pondering the execution of the work. The elegant slender figure reveals a sense of loneliness. In reality, the artist paints the opposite of his life; he incorporates his desired qualities into the people within his paintings. As an artist Chiu Ya-Tsai often felt like an outsider. Through paintings he finds vitality that lived on, and a place to express his profound poetic sentiments.

View More Works