T.O.P of the popular K-pop boy band Big Bang said Monday he feels honored to curate a charity auction by one of the world’s largest brokers of collectibles.
“I carefully chose each one of the items to be put on sale in this event together with Sotheby’s, keeping in close contact (with them) for more than one year,” the 29-year-old singer-rapper said during a news conference in Seoul to promote the event. “I feel really great and honored to be taking part in the event and for the confidence that Sotheby’s has given to me even though I’m just a young art collector.”
The BigBang rapper will present an art collection labeled “#TTTOP,” on Oct. 3 in Hong Kong. More than 25 pieces worth $11.5 million from up-and-coming Asian and renowned Western artists will be put on sale. Among the distinguished artists presented are Andy Warhol, George Condo, Rudolf Stingel, Sigmar Polke, Kim Whan-ki, Lee U-fan and Paik Nam-june.
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Big Bang rapper T.O.P speaks during a press conference at the Shilla Hotel in Seoul on Monday for the K-pop artist’s upcoming art collection “#TTTOP,” which will be on display in Hong Kong on Oct. 3. (Yonhap) |
Also included are works by rising Japanese, South Korean and Chinese artists such as Gokita Tomoo, He Xiangyu and Saito Makoto and the singer’s friends and modern artists Takashi Murakami and Nawa Kohei.
“I selected works that best suit my taste as a young collector,” said the star whose Korean name is Choi Seung-hyun. “I also put importance on the freshness of ideas and the size of beauty behind them.”
Part of the profits from the T.O.P-Sotheby’s auction will be delivered to The Asian Cultural Council, a nonprofit foundation engaged in fostering economically struggling young art talent in Asia.
“This is not the usual kind of commercial auction but a goodwill event to help struggling young artists,” he said. “I hope there will be a good outcome.”
This marks the New York-based British multinational company’s first collaboration with a young Asian celebrity.
The singer-songwriter-actor is also known for his passion for collecting design furniture and contemporary art work. He previously worked as the curator of the contemporary art exhibition titled “The Eye Zone” at the Singapore Art Science Museum.
The preview exhibition for the auction is scheduled for Sept. 21-22 in Seoul and Sept. 30-Oct. 3 in Hong Kong. (Yonhap)
