- 1037
CHU TEH-CHUN (ZHU DEQUN) | Homecoming
Estimate
1,200,000 - 2,500,000 HKD
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Description
- Chu Teh-Chun
- Homecoming
- titled, signed in Chinese and stamped with the artist's seals
- ink on paper
- 80 by 240 cm; 31 ½ by 94 ½ in.
executed in 1995
Provenance
Important Private European Collection
Condition
The work is overall in very good and its original condition.
"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."
"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."
Catalogue Note
Combining Painting and Calligraphy with an Authentic Heart The paintings of Chu Teh-Chun, Zao Wou-Ki, and Wu Guanzhong all express characteristics of Chinese calligraphy, but of these three members of Académie française, only Chu Teh-Chun created his own series of calligraphy partieces, providing an important model for the study of the relationship between Chinese calligraphy and abstract oil painting. Chu Teh-Chun's foundation in calligraphy began with his studies at home, where his father encouraged him to study the kuangcao (wild- cursive script) of Huang Xizhi. As he studied Western modern art at the Hangzhou School of Fine Art, he continued to study calligraphy before and after his classes. He maintained this habit after he moved to Paris, and eventually, calligraphy became a cornerstone element of his painting practice. Homecoming (Lot 1037), featured in this season's evening auction, is one of the largest of Chu Teh-Chun's calligraphy paintings. The vast dimensions of this artwork allow the painter to express himself without restraint – and also allow the viewer to fully appreciate the artistic world of Chu Teh-Chun as a calligrapher.
Chu Teh-Chun's calligraphy exhibits the boldness and vigour of kuangcao while also incorporating the spirit of the great Tang Dynasty calligrapher Liu Gongquan. In composition and layout, Chu recalls the style of the Ming master Zhu Yunming. Homecoming is an example of how Chu's characters vary greatly in size and complexity in correspondence with the literary tone of the text. The characters veer from one extreme to the other, first large, then small, as the artist shows off his dazzling skill in an unbridled style. These characters express Chu's mastery of space and liubai (blank-leaving technique). Most obviously in the sixth through ninth columns of characters, it is evident that Chu has decided in advance where to shrink his writing down and simplify his strokes in order to leave extra space for enlarged characters in the next line. In this way, he highlights certain characters in order to emphasize the formal or aesthetic beauty of these words in the text. Proceeding through hundreds of characters in this fluid fashion allows Chu to better express the moral compass in his heart, embodying the traditional Chinese expression that "painting and calligraphy share the same origins". Chu does not simply inscribe characters onto paper; instead, he meticulously carves them into space to express the profound internal relationships within the text.
Chu Teh-Chun's style of calligraphy can change depending on the content of the text. Homecoming, a text by Tao Yuanming that signals his resignation from official life and plans to return to his hometown, expresses moral rectitude; in contrast, The Remembrance of Red Cliff (Lot 1038) reflects the artist’s heroic spirit and lofty sentiments. In his rendition of this well-known Song Dynasty poem, the artist begins the first verse, with a sharp and incisive hand that differs completely from the floating and powerful lines of Homecoming. Viewing Chu Teh-Chun's calligraphy and oil paintings side-by-side, one can easily see how the artist used calligraphy to stimulate the abstract world of his paintings. It is noteworthy that the artist stamped all of his calligraphy works with traditional scholar seals, portraying the posture of a traditional literati that is not evident in his oil paintings.
The authenticity of the artwork has been confirmed by Foundation Chu Teh-Chun, Geneva
Chu Teh-Chun's calligraphy exhibits the boldness and vigour of kuangcao while also incorporating the spirit of the great Tang Dynasty calligrapher Liu Gongquan. In composition and layout, Chu recalls the style of the Ming master Zhu Yunming. Homecoming is an example of how Chu's characters vary greatly in size and complexity in correspondence with the literary tone of the text. The characters veer from one extreme to the other, first large, then small, as the artist shows off his dazzling skill in an unbridled style. These characters express Chu's mastery of space and liubai (blank-leaving technique). Most obviously in the sixth through ninth columns of characters, it is evident that Chu has decided in advance where to shrink his writing down and simplify his strokes in order to leave extra space for enlarged characters in the next line. In this way, he highlights certain characters in order to emphasize the formal or aesthetic beauty of these words in the text. Proceeding through hundreds of characters in this fluid fashion allows Chu to better express the moral compass in his heart, embodying the traditional Chinese expression that "painting and calligraphy share the same origins". Chu does not simply inscribe characters onto paper; instead, he meticulously carves them into space to express the profound internal relationships within the text.
Chu Teh-Chun's style of calligraphy can change depending on the content of the text. Homecoming, a text by Tao Yuanming that signals his resignation from official life and plans to return to his hometown, expresses moral rectitude; in contrast, The Remembrance of Red Cliff (Lot 1038) reflects the artist’s heroic spirit and lofty sentiments. In his rendition of this well-known Song Dynasty poem, the artist begins the first verse, with a sharp and incisive hand that differs completely from the floating and powerful lines of Homecoming. Viewing Chu Teh-Chun's calligraphy and oil paintings side-by-side, one can easily see how the artist used calligraphy to stimulate the abstract world of his paintings. It is noteworthy that the artist stamped all of his calligraphy works with traditional scholar seals, portraying the posture of a traditional literati that is not evident in his oil paintings.
The authenticity of the artwork has been confirmed by Foundation Chu Teh-Chun, Geneva