Liu Guosong (Liu Kuo-sung)

Nordness Gallery, New York

Colours: The colours in the catalogue illustrations are fairly accurate although the overall tonality is warmer in the originals. Condition: All three panels are in very good condition and executed on cream fibrous paper and laid down on card. Each sheet undulates slightly. (i) There is a 20cm. horizontal flattened crease just below the centre of the left hand edge and a further 10cm. crease towards the lower left hand corner. There are several further small creases and media marks throughout. These are probably intrinsic to the artist's working method. (ii) There are two horizontal parallel flattened creases at the centre of the sheet. There are several further small creases and media marks throughout. These are probably intrinsic to the artist's working method. (iii) There are two horizontal parallel flattened creases at the centre of the sheet. There are several further small creases and media marks throughout. There is a further 30cm. horizontal flattened crease a quarter of the way up the right hand edge. These are probably intrinsic to the artist's working method.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

A founder and continuing leader of the contemporary Chinese ink painting movement, Liu Guosong was born in China's Anhui province in 1932. He settled in Taipei at age seventeen where he was trained in both Chinese and Western art at the National Taiwan Normal University. During his youth Liu was very influenced by Western styles, such as Impressionism, and painted mostly in oils.

By 1958, the discovery of Jackson Pollock lead to a great breakthrough in his style when he attempted to combine Abstract Expressionism with traditional Chinese ink painting, progressively abandoning Western materials in favor of traditional Chinese brush, ink and paper.

The three lots proposed in this sale all date from the late 1960s and are typical of this very personal style developed by Liu Guosong at that time. Although evocative of traditional landscapes, the painting style is wholly different. Very dense localised ink splashes and dark forms suggest mountains and peaks, whereas the unpainted areas hint at water or an all-enveloping mist. The work's texture is also very characteristic of Liu's signature style: he uses coarse cotton paper on which he applies ink and pigments before tearing selected fibers from it, creating stunning lightning effects.