In Australia, our artistic engagement often gravitates towards Western art traditions, with a predominant focus on European Old Masters and contemporary American art. This orientation sometimes leads to the underappreciation of the rich art forms from our closer neighbours in the Asia-Pacific region. However, a collection recently consigned to our October Fine Art Auction by a Melbourne-based collector offers an opportunity to appreciate a unique selection of contemporary Asian art.
Included is the major work Visiting Fairlyland 2004 by artist Li Chen, part of his renowned Spiritual Journey through the Great Ether series. Li Chen is a renowned Taiwanese sculptor celebrated for his large-scale, spiritual, and often minimalist sculptures. His work is deeply influenced by Buddhist principles, and explores themes of serenity, balance, and the human spirit. Visiting Fairyland embodies Chen’s signature blend of Eastern philosophy and modern sculptural techniques. The series of works initiated in the early 2000s represents a turning point in his artistic career, marking a significant departure from traditional sculpture towards a more contemporary and personal artistic expression.
Racing Horses is a large-scale mixed media work on canvas, and a beautiful example of Chinese artist Xue Song’s output, incorporating the elements he is well known for. Song’s work is deeply rooted in the concepts of “deconstruction” and “reconstruction;”1 he uses materials like fire, ashes, and fragments of printed matter layered on his canvas. In this process, he creates facets of meaning, allowing him to traverse the boundaries between different forms of imagery and content.
Chen Wen Ling’s sculptural works are characterised by a bold expression of human emotions and experiences. Through his sculptures, Wen Ling explores the intersection of personal identity and collective experience. Wen Ling’s work, Distracted, portrays a figure stripped of any concealment. This unpretentious presentation may stir a slight discomfort among viewers, yet it serves as a potent reminder of art’s ability to connect deeply on an emotional level.
Gong Dong is a contemporary Chinese artist and sculptor known for his minimalist and conceptual approach. Dong’s My Sky 2007 features a collection of sculptures that depict everyday men and women in rigid postures, each gazing skyward with expressions of detachment. This series draws from Dong’s personal observations of daily life, capturing the essence of modern individuals who are overwhelmed by their desires and the endless flow of information. Despite their active engagement with news and data, this intense absorption drains their energy and deprives them of peace, resulting in a sense of perpetual unrest and unfulfillment.
117 x 96 x 60cm. $130,000 – $160,000
Being fascinated by this selection of works I asked the collector, who prefers to remain anonymous, how he came to acquire these pieces and what drew him to these artists. “Having moved to Hong Kong in 1983 as a young banker and spending the next 30 years in the Asia-Pacific, I had a chance to witness firsthand the transformational changes affecting pretty much all aspects of society; commercial, artistic and cultural life. These years saw incredible economic growth and rising prosperity in many Asian countries which also led to a proliferation of artistic expressions of a dawning awareness that this finally was going to be the Pacific century. Racing Horses by Xue Song and Gong Dong’s My Sky express the incredible vigour and vitality of modern China as it increasingly occupies a position of prominence and influence not only commercially but also artistically. Chen Wen Ling’s red sculpture of a young boy, aptly entitled Distracted, serves as a cautionary reminder of just how unsettling this rapid societal transformation must feel for many. A juxtaposition is Li Chen’s Visiting Fairyland, exuding a soothing calm with its rounded, matte body and contrasting glistening metallic head. These pieces, individually and together, strongly speak to the dynamism, force, and optimism that has come to characterise modern Asia.”
I greatly admire these artworks, as they all share a deep appreciation for history and the events that shape identity. Each of the mentioned artists have been widely exhibited around the world, marking them as significant figures in the international art community. Each piece is exceptionally crafted, demonstrating a respect for traditional techniques while embracing contemporary forms of expression. These works stand as significant contributions to art, bridging cultural divides and resonating across borders with their profound insights into our shared human experiences.
1.Xue Song, Piercing through history and the fashions, A retrospective from 1988-2011, by Li Xu, Kwai Fung Art Publishing House, page 15.
Wiebke Brix, Head of Art
Top Image: Gong Dong (born 1977) My Sky 2007, fibre glass, ed. 9/10 (6). Size variable (largest: 71 x 16 x 16cm). $5,000-10,000
October 2024