Herald Artday winter auction presents variety of contemporary art

 

Artday, a sister company of The Korea Herald, presents a variety of contemporary art by Korean and foreign artists for its winter auction and exhibition.

It features about 110 paintings by Korean and foreign artists including Kim Jong-hak, Ha In-doo, Ji Seok-chul Yayoi Kusama and Fang Lijun.

Artday Auction, launched in October last year, is known as an online auction that is easily accessible for both first-timers and experienced collectors. It aims to become a trusted art auction house that offers reasonable prices. Its online auction system enables those living outside Seoul and busy office workers to browse artworks in detail and make a bid.

Online bidding is available at the Artday website (www.artday.co.kr) or at “Artday” mobile application, which informs auction status in real time. The application is available for both Android and iPhone.

Prominent works include Kim Jong-hak’s “Mallard Duck” and “Woman” and Ha In-doo’s “Haejoeum (Sound of the Sea)” and “Figure of Thirst.”

A female portrait by Kim Jong-hak, who is well known for scenery and landscape paintings, will go on the block starting at 1.5 million won ($1,350). The watercolor painting humorously accentuates the colorful makeup of the woman.

Two paintings by the late abstract painter Ha In-doo are also on the block. Known for the blue “Mandara” painting, Ha was the pioneer of abstract art in Korea, who added Korean style to Art Informel, abstract expressionism in the West. His geometric figure painting “Haejoreum (Sound of the Sea)” starts at 25 million won and “Figure of the Thirst” at 14 million won.

The artworks range in price from 500,000 won to 100 million won. The diverse selection of artworks is expected to fit the needs of both seasoned collectors and those who wish to buy affordable ones as holiday gifts.

Ji Seok-chul’s “Absence,” the surrealistic painting featuring his iconic chair motif, starts at 3 million won.

Emerging young artist Son Dong-hyun’s “Portrait of the King” portrays Michael Jackson in the “Billie Jean” costume, showing the interesting combination of realistic description of the pop star and the Korean traditional painting style.

Artday offers skin-care coupons to a selected number of visitors to the exhibition and those who register for new membership. Membership can be applied at the website and mobile application.

Those interested can view the works at the exhibition, which runs from Nov. 28-Dec. 3 at Gallery DOS in Palpan-dong, Jongno, in Seoul. The auction closes one item per minute starting at 5 p.m. on Dec. 4.

For more information, call (02) 3210-2255.

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