- 15
Yue Minjun
Estimate
5,000,000 - 6,000,000 HKD
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Description
- Yue Minjun
- Three Beauties
- oil on canvas
signed in Pinyin and dated 2007; signed in Chinese and dated 2007 on the reverse
Exhibited
Norway, Bergen, Bergen Art Museum, Real Life Stories, 4 October, 2012 - 3 February, 2013
Condition
This work is generally in good condition. There are wear and handling marks along the edges. Upon close inspection, fine vertical hairline craquelures and several patches of paint loss are found along the lower left edge. Please note that it was not examined under ultraviolet light.
"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
20% of the proceeds will be donated to Today Literary Association and Li Xianting’s Film Fund
Yue Minjun has said, “I always found laughter irresistible.” Best known for his oil paintings depicting himself with his trademark smile, Yue is a leading figure in the Chinese contemporary art scene. He has exhibited widely and is recognised as one of the breakout
stars of his generation.
Surrealism had an especially strong influence on his earlier works. His self-portraits from the 1990s were the first to depict his easy, automatic smile, but the figures’ warmth masked underlying emotions. The smile became a mask as the paintings’ complexities were played out in the figures’ arrangements or poses. His work became further influenced by Western art history as he began arranging his figures in poses or settings reminiscent of the masterpieces. Yue has also been continuing his Landscape with No One series in which he removes figures from historical Chinese socialist paintings and well-known Western paintings. The artist has stated, “Typical socialist paintings in China looked very realistic but were indeed surreal. They served for heroic fantasies, and the images of great people or the heroes in the paintings could well justify the fabricated scenes.”
Yue Minjun has shown internationally including “The Archeological Discovery in AD 3009” at the ARoS Aarhus Kunstmuseum, Aarhus; “Half-life of a Dream: Contemporary Chinese Art from the Logan Collection” at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, San Francisco; a solo museum exhibition “Yue Minjun and the Symbolic Smile” (2007 - 2008) at Queens Museum of Art, Queens, New York; as well as “The Reproduction of Idols: Yue Minjun Works, 2004-2006” (2006) at the He Xiangning Art Museum, Shenzhen, China. He has also been included in the 2008 and 2004 Shanghai Biennales, and the 48th Venice Biennale in 1999.
Yue Minjun has said, “I always found laughter irresistible.” Best known for his oil paintings depicting himself with his trademark smile, Yue is a leading figure in the Chinese contemporary art scene. He has exhibited widely and is recognised as one of the breakout
stars of his generation.
Surrealism had an especially strong influence on his earlier works. His self-portraits from the 1990s were the first to depict his easy, automatic smile, but the figures’ warmth masked underlying emotions. The smile became a mask as the paintings’ complexities were played out in the figures’ arrangements or poses. His work became further influenced by Western art history as he began arranging his figures in poses or settings reminiscent of the masterpieces. Yue has also been continuing his Landscape with No One series in which he removes figures from historical Chinese socialist paintings and well-known Western paintings. The artist has stated, “Typical socialist paintings in China looked very realistic but were indeed surreal. They served for heroic fantasies, and the images of great people or the heroes in the paintings could well justify the fabricated scenes.”
Yue Minjun has shown internationally including “The Archeological Discovery in AD 3009” at the ARoS Aarhus Kunstmuseum, Aarhus; “Half-life of a Dream: Contemporary Chinese Art from the Logan Collection” at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, San Francisco; a solo museum exhibition “Yue Minjun and the Symbolic Smile” (2007 - 2008) at Queens Museum of Art, Queens, New York; as well as “The Reproduction of Idols: Yue Minjun Works, 2004-2006” (2006) at the He Xiangning Art Museum, Shenzhen, China. He has also been included in the 2008 and 2004 Shanghai Biennales, and the 48th Venice Biennale in 1999.