ZHONG CHENG

  • Zhong Cheng 2015 Spring Auction「Morden And Contemporary Art」
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    068

    CHIU YATSAI (1949-2013)

    The Musician

    Oil on Canvas
    162x130cm

    Signed Chiu Ya-Tsai in Chinese

    Estimate TWD 2,500,000-4,000,000
    USD 81,700-130,700
    HKD 0-0

    Hammer Price TWD 3,068,000
    USD 0
    HKD 0

Provenance：

Illustrated："CHIU YA-TSAI ", Modern Art Gallery, Taiwan, No. 8

Exhibition："Chiu YaTsai Solo Exhibition", Modern Art Gallery, 1993

Exposition：

“I stroll along the river, raise my head and see Yue Niang over the hill, resting on that poplar, and disappear into the forest behind my house. During the night when Yue Niang is away, I look into the dark, walk along the silent road like a mourning young man. Or you might feel blue, if imagine yourself as a philosopher, you will think of the road as a path of knowledge. In the end our imagination, thoughts and sorrow originate from our soul, every result comes from the poetic spirits that lies within contemplation. ” – Chiu Ya-Tsai
Chiu Ya-Tsai was very scarce of words during his childhood. His delayed mental development held back his intake of knowledge and manner, causing him unable to complete his middle school though the extraordinary past let him appreciate more of himself. His unpolluted mind also alleviates limitations and restrictions in his creations. Chiu Ya-Tsai was able to transform every aspect and expression of life into spiritual tangible drawings, as seen in his famous work of Taipei culture salon, Wistaria House. After encountering Chinese history, Shakespear, Dostoyevsky’s great literature, Chiu Ya-Tsai finally started to treasure his personal value, indirectly adjusted his characters in painting with deeper and richer contours. Under the influence of ancient Tang dynasty, he inherited certain signature features such as the hook-like noses, almond-shaped eyes, oval faces and thin bodies; with almost identical features for both male and female. However, ever since Chiu Ya-Tsai started battling Alzheimer’s disease, memories of his beginning started to fade. The themes of his works soon silently reflected solitude, depression, and restrain. The works severely dig under rationality, revealing one’s vulnerability, pride, degeneration and weakness, as if observing the dark and complex humanity. 

 Despite painting, Chiu Ya-Tsai was also adept in formulating complex thoughts. With such gifted talent, he was honored to co-exhibit and display his art with Picasso, Ju Ming, and other eminent artists in various countries like Hong Kong, Switzerland, Monaco, New York and many more, impressing viewers all around the world. 

“Today, my literature has been recorded on paper, colors have been painted on canvas.” the following quote was left to the world by Chiu Ya-Tsai. Mixed with desolation, the lonely character within the painting compliments his monologue while it lingers in the dark shadows. Chiu Ya-Tsai depicts The Musician with self-taught yet skillful and delicate strokes, cautiously, selflessly travels back to the origin of an artist, performing the purest and upmost innocent state of art. 

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