ZHONG CHENG

  • Zhong Cheng 2014 Autumn Auction「Morden And Contemporary Art」
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    LIU KUOSUNG (b.1932)

    Le Soleil

    1974

    Ink and Color on Paper
    100x70cm

    Signed Liu Kuo-Song in Chinese, dated 1974 With one seal of the artist

    Estimate TWD 1,800,000-3,200,000
    USD 59,400-105,600
    HKD 0-0

    Hammer Price TWD 3,304,000
    USD 0
    HKD 0

Provenance：PROVENANCE Acquired from Les Galeries Defacqz, Belgium (Lot 176 / 11 April 2014)

Illustrated：

Exhibition：

Exposition：

Inspired by the pictures taken by Apollo 8 from the moon in 1969, Liu Kuo-Song has changed his perspective towards “the space” from the traditional “admiration”. Trespassing the ancient approach of looking depressed into the sky and converted to sketching the cycle of the moon, earth and the sun. 

In the famous “Space series”, influenced by western contemporary art concepts, Liu Kuo-Song utilized a unique language composed by geometric squares and circles to present collage geometric techniques such as pop art and hard-edge art. However, the main inspiration comes from Chinese lanterns. Being innovative but still following traditions, Liu Kuo-Song perfectly combined the “sky” and “earth” and “round” and “square”, echoing with the traditional cultural and aesthetics characteristics. An innovative “universal graphic form” is created that is oriental and also western; giving it a visual language and popular value. 

The glistening and magnificent “Le Soleil” shines throughout the universe and beautiful earth. Liu Kuo-Song’s brushstrokes are generous and bold but still maintaining the elegance of literati. With free flowing brushstrokes, he expressed the tranquil Chinese traditional impressionist art style and leaving the viewers to experience the changes and orders of the mystic universe. Yu Guang Zhong, a Taiwanese poet once quoted from Su Shih’s “Fu on the Battle of Red Cliffs” described as “so I lament that human being’s life is so ephemeral in contrast to this everlasting Yang-zi River.  I wish we could fly with a fairy in the immense space eternally as the Moon has.” 

With bold brushstrokes, Liu Kuo-Song striked calligraphy lines that are full of motion, and then with bright blue and golden yellow along with other ink colors blending and the unique “Modern ink painting”, the painting is presented with a brisk and natural rhythm and rich textures. The rising golden sun is partly visible under the strong glisters. It echoes the solid foundation of the artist’s skills and the unique aesthetics view from the impact of the eastern and western art styles. 
  
Eastern art always pursuits a “natural” approach. And water ink is a form of natural aesthetics thoughts. Wang Wei, a poet from the Tang dynasty, once wrote in “the techniques of painting” that “among all painting materials, the water ink is the best in presenting a natural form and composition.” For decades, Liu Kuo-Song studied non-ink texture water ink painting to breakthrough traditional restraints and connects closely with the gentle and warm texture. He has given water ink an unprecedented ability to present art. Liu Kuo-Song is indeed one of the greatest water ink painters.  

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