On August 20 at 4 p.m., K Auction will hold its August art auction at its headquarters in Sinsa-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul. The sale will feature a total of 88 works worth about 8 billion KRW (about USD 5.84 million), including many rare pieces that have seldom been shown to the public.
 
A preview will be open from August 9 until the day of the auction at the same venue, with free admission and no reservation required.
 


Kim Whanki’s〈Spring〉— First Public Appearance in 50 Years

The highlight of the auction is Kim Whanki’s 1956–1957 painting 〈Spring〉. Created during the artist’s time in Paris, the work dates to the transitional period when he was moving from figurative painting to lyrical abstraction.
 
〈Spring〉was first unveiled in the winter of 1975 at the Kim Whanki retrospective at the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Deoksugung, held the year after the artist passed away in New York in July 1974. It has been kept in private hands for nearly 50 years and is now appearing on the market for the first time.
 
The work is characterized by simplified and color-blocked compositions of Korean motifs such as the moon, mountains, plum blossoms, deer, and moon jars. Its period, subject matter, and composition closely resemble Kim’s〈Women and Moon Jar〉from the Lee Kun-hee Collection, enhancing its rarity and art-historical significance. The starting price is about 2 billion KRW (about USD 1.46 million).
 


Lee Jung-seop’s〈Democratic Indictment〉— First Public Viewing of the Original

Also making its debut at auction is Lee Jung-seop’s〈Accusation against Democracy〉. This piece is one of four cover design drafts created in 1952 for poet Ku Sang’s socio-critical book〈Accusation against Democracy〉. Until now, it has only been known through photographic reproductions.
 
The work criticizes the authoritarian politics and social contradictions in the post-liberation era. It was not ultimately chosen as the book’s cover and was later used for another of Ku Sang’s publications. The estimated price is between about 120 million and 200 million KRW (about USD 87,600 – 146,000).
 


Park Rae-hyun’s〈Women〉— Capturing the Joy of Liberation

Woo-hyang Park Rae-hyun’s〈Women〉will also be shown in its original form for the first time. Created in the 1940s, the piece was introduced at her solo exhibition in June 1946 at the Donghwa Department Store Gallery. It depicts the joy of liberation through a delicate, feminine sensibility. The figures in white hanbok and blue jeogori(a white traditional Korean dress with a blue jacket), along with a dynamically waving Taegeukgi (Korean national flag), reflect the artist’s refined sense of color and the lively atmosphere of outdoor scenes.
 
On May 29, 1946, ‘Jayoo Shinmun’ (The Liberty News) described Park as a “vivacious woman artist” and praised the work as a “masterpiece expressing the joy of liberation with a delicate feminine touch.” Since being included in the Samsung Foundation’s 1997 catalog “Artists of Korea: Park Rae-hyun”, it has not been exhibited to the public. The estimate is between about 17 million and 120 million KRW (about USD 12,400 – 87,600).


 
A Feast of Color
 
Other notable lots include Jang Wook-jin’s〈Family Portrait〉(estimate about 110 million – 120 million KRW, about USD 80,300 – 87,600) and Kim Whanki’s drawing〈Mountain and Moon〉(estimate about 40 million – 60 million KRW, about USD 29,200 – 43,800).

Kim Jong-hak’s〈Summer Landscape〉captures the energy of summer with bold primary colors and lively brushwork. Lee Dae-won’s〈Sea uses deep, rich blues to evoke the freshness and sense of liberation of the open ocean. Ahn Chang-hong’s〈Poppy Hill〉 vividly expresses the vitality and freedom of summer fields through intense color, while Kang Yo-bae’s〈Morning Sky〉portrays the calm, mysterious mood of the early morning sea with rich tones and delicate brushstrokes.
 


Auction Participation Information

Bidding is open to K Auction members via absentee, in-person, telephone, or online live bidding. Attendance at the auction is open to the public regardless of membership. All works will be on display at the K Auction gallery until the day of the sale, with free admission.

References

• 케이옥션 (K Auction)