Over 120 works by established Korean and foreign artists on the block


Artday, a subsidiary of the Herald Corporation, presents a special selection of modern and contemporary art this week, aimed at both novice and seasoned collectors.

It features about 120 paintings by Korea’s modern and contemporary artists ― from established figures such as Kim Hwan-ki, Sa Suk-won, Lee Sook-ja and Kang Ik-joong to young artists Kim Dong-yoo, Lee Gil-woo and Bae Yoon-hwan. Japanese contemporary artists Yayoi Kusama and Takashi Murakami’s works are also on sale.

Artday auction is known as an online auction that is easily accessible for both first-timers and experienced collectors.

Prominent works include “Twelve Zodiac Animals” by Sa Suk-won starting at 42 million won ($37,000); “Canola Flower” by Lee Sook-ja starting at 50 million won; “Chromatic Color on Newspaper” by Kim Hwan-ki starting at 50 million won and “Climbing Mountain” by Lee Dae-won starting at 30 million won. 

The “Twelve Zodiac Animals” by Sa Suk-won features a set of twelve Chinese zodiac animal paintings, representing the artist’s unique style of using thick color paints and expression of a joyful, upbeat personality.

A highlight among the contemporary works up for sale is Lee Sook-ja’s “Canola Flower,” drawn on a 129.3-centimeter-wide canvas in the 1960s. The yellow canola flowers take up almost the entire canvas, creating the illusion that the viewers are standing at the center of a real canola flower field.

A wide array of modern and contemporary works will be available at starting prices ranging from 300,000 won to 50 million won.

Auction organizers said the prices represent a 30-50 percent discount.

Selections of Korean landscape paintings by acclaimed artists including Min Gyeong-gap, Byun Gwan-sik, Lee Sang-beom and Kim Ki-chang are also on offer.

Min’s flower and bird painting is on a black background rather than the conventional white space of traditional Korean paintings. The black background accentuates the white magnolia and green birds. The starting price of the painting is set at 1.5 million won. 

Kusama’s famous “Pumpkin” is one of the highlights among the foreign artists’ artworks on the block. Her works have been receiving popular attention recently after her much publicized collaboration with Louis Vuitton.

One of the pumpkin series works features a green pumpkin in dots set against a fractured-looking background. The price starts from 1.5 million won.

Organizers said with the recent popularity of her artwork, the piece is expected to fetch a high price.

The vice president of the auction company So Don-young expects the selection of good artwork offered at reasonable price to draw collectors to the auction.

“The auction will help revitalize the art market before major art events kick off next month, including Gwangju Biennale, Busan Biennale and the Korean International Art Fair,” said So.

For visitors to the auction review, Artday will offer complimentary coffee and drinks sponsored by LG Fashion, which will also provide a 20 percent discount on LG fashion brands.

Those interested can view the works at the exhibition which runs until Sept. 2 at LF Gallery, located at the basement floor of the LG Fashion West Wing. The auction closes one item per minute starting at 5 p.m. on Sept. 3.

For more information, call (02) 3210-2255, or visit www.artday.co.kr.

By Lee Woo-young  (wylee@heraldcorp.com)