Seoul Auction is preparing to host its largest auction block in 17 years as part of an ambitious effort to breathe new life into South Korea's struggling art market. The prestigious auction house will present a two-day sale from November 24 to 25, featuring an impressive collection of artworks with a combined estimated value of 29 billion won, equivalent to approximately $20 million.
The highlight of the event will be the inaugural "Evening Sale: Eternal Emotion" on November 24, marking Seoul Auction's first-ever dedicated auction for masterpieces. This exclusive sale will showcase 26 exceptional works by modern and contemporary artists, with combined starting prices totaling an extraordinary 27 billion won. The decision to launch this premium auction format represents a significant milestone for the Korean art market.
"Although the market remains challenging, we are beginning to see signs of a rebound. To help lift the mood, we have prepared a special auction," explained Joung Tae-hee, head of the Auction Business Team at Seoul Auction, during an interview on Thursday. This strategic move reflects the auction house's confidence in the market's potential recovery and its commitment to elevating the Korean art scene.
The centerpiece of the evening sale is Marc Chagall's magnificent painting "Bouquet de Fleurs" (Bouquet of Flowers), which carries a starting price of 9.4 billion won. Created in 1937, this masterpiece was painted 22 years after Chagall's marriage to his lifelong muse and beloved wife, Bella. The painting beautifully embodies the artist's signature theme of gravity-defying love, depicting a couple embracing while floating midair with a bouquet, all rendered in Chagall's characteristic deep blue hues.
Chagall enthusiasts will have additional opportunities, as the auction will feature a total of four paintings by the renowned artist. Among these is "Paysage de Paris" (Landscape of Paris), a work from Chagall's later years that demonstrates his continued artistic evolution and mastery throughout his career.
The evening sale will also spotlight works by leading Korean masters, including Kim Whan-ki's significant piece "15-VI-69 71 I," created in 1969 during the artist's transformative New York period. This particular work holds special importance as it reflects a pivotal moment in Kim's artistic development, created just before he perfected his signature all-over dot paintings that would define his later career. Additionally, the auction will feature works from Lee U-fan's celebrated "With Winds" series, showcasing the artist's distinctive sweeping and rhythmic brushwork executed in sophisticated gray hues.
The following day's "Contemporary Day" sale will take a different approach, targeting younger collectors with 64 lots featuring works by contemporary artists including Nicolas Party, Kasing Lung, and Lee Kang-so. This sale will also include luxury collectibles, such as a Louis Vuitton art bag created through a collaboration with renowned Japanese artist Kusama Yayoi, demonstrating the growing intersection between high fashion and contemporary art.
Prospective bidders and art enthusiasts can view all works featured in the two-day auction at a comprehensive preview exhibition currently on display at Seoul Auction's headquarters in Gangnam-gu, southern Seoul. This preview provides an invaluable opportunity for collectors to examine the pieces in person before the sales begin.
In conjunction with the major auction, Seoul Auction has opened the third edition of its popular art and furniture exhibition titled "Art & Furniture: When the House Reads," which will run through November 30. This unique exhibition centers on the remarkable works of furniture designer Bahk Jong-sun, whose minimalist creations gained international recognition when they were featured in the Academy Award-winning film "Parasite."
Bahk's furniture designs are characterized by subtle simplicity and clean, straight lines, an aesthetic philosophy he says is directly inspired by bone structure. "Using curves in craft or furniture can be like adding too much seasoning to food -- you should use them only when they're truly needed," Bahk explained during an interview at the exhibition on Thursday. "What really fascinates me is observing bones. They become thick, then taper at the center, then thicken again -- why is the middle part so slender? That structure is incredible to me."
The furniture exhibition also features works by internationally acclaimed artists including Edward Gormley, David Hockney, and Choi Wook-kyung, displayed alongside Bahk's furniture designs to create a dialogue between different artistic mediums. Additionally, visitors to the exhibition at Seoul Auction's headquarters will discover a carefully curated selection of books recommended by participating artists, art collectors, and entertainers who are deeply engaged with the arts, adding an intellectual dimension to the viewing experience.
