PRINTPROVENANCE:
Bruun Rasmussen Auction, Copenhagen, March 6, 2012, lot 676 Acquired from the above by the present owner
Bruun Rasmussen Auction, Copenhagen, March 6, 2012, lot 676 Acquired from the above by the present owner
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Kiss Me under Moonlight
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1976 Acrylic on canvas 102 x 152.5 cm Signed on the reverse Ting and titled kiss me under moonlight in English, dated 76 |
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Estimate
7,500,000 - 9,500,000 1,773,000 - 2,246,000 227,400 - 288,100
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Sold Price
9,000,000 2,132,701 275,398
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Catalogue Note:
As a successful, self-taught artist, the artistic achievements of Walasse Ting did not come by chance. During his stay in France, Ting met a group of friends with similar interests, some of which were the CoBrA artists rising in the early 1950s. Ting , and also held solo exhibitions in Paris and Belgium. CoBrA was viewed as one of the most important artistic groups after World War II. Although the group was short-lived, their philosophy and artistic concepts had always influenced Ting imperceptibly, providing Ting with a new perspective on artistic creations.
The young CoBrA artists abandoned dogma and theories, and advocated for a new form of art that was based on freedom and an optimistic look on life; their painting techniques broadly paralleled those of expressionism, and their unrestrained use of a variety of colors was their way of breaking out from the traditional aesthetic forms and the pursuit of a bourgeois society. Elements of folk and primitive arts were incorporated on top of the exaggerated and instinctive styles. These novel ideas and artistic forms provided Ting with new creative inspirations; he gradually changed his painting style and started to experiment with new themes and topics. In 1958, Ting relocated to New York, where he encountered the popular style known as abstract expressionism. Ting was deeply attracted by the unlimited freedom and self-expression in their artistic philosophies. In particular, the idea of using dots, lines, and colors to express one’s fantasies was a perfect match with Ting’s debonair attitude. Since then, he was immersed in the world of American abstract expressionism. “Pop art”, another art movement in New York, was also very influential at the time; its impact was felt all over the US, and the pop artists’ probe into American popular culture was quite compatible with the child-like elements in Ting’s work. Having absorbed the essences of three important artistic movements in Europe and the United States, Ting began his luxurious and delightful journey into the world of colors, which translated into a visually powerful and dazzling experience of the senses for his audience.
By the 1970s, Ting has gathered a tremendous creative energy having spent more than ten years in New York. While his artistic style changed from abstract to figurative paintings, “women” was always his favorite topic where he spent most of his energy. While living in New York, Ting began to develop a style which the strokes were strong and wild, the colors vibrant, proud, and unconventional, an approach reflecting Ting’s character. One cannot deny that the city itself, free, innovative, and blooming with culture, also took part in shaping Ting’s unique style. During the 1970s, as his focus transformed from abstract to figurative paintings, his state of mind also began to change. He spent large amounts of time painting “women”, his favorite topic. During this period, the lines in his works demonstrated similar styles from Fauvism. In actuality, during his early days in Europe, the CoBrA artists already provided Ting with the inspirations for a similar style. With an overall exaggerated tone, the female figures on Ting’s canvas are sometimes graceful, sometimes passionate, but always charming. The most representative work is “Miss World”, a large painting completed in 1975. In his 1976 painting “Kiss Me Under the Moonlight”, a near-black background captures the dreaminess of the night, a female form lying on her side is outlined with simple crayons, lazily supporting her head with her hand as she looks ahead with a confident and comfortable attitude - she is proud and happy with her beautiful figure. The artist has neatly portrayed all the charms of the lady, and the unconventional way of depiction demonstrated the confidence and liveliness of the artist himself. Ting chose dark blue to tone down the overall expression, creating a sense of mystery as deep as the azure ocean. Another work from the same period is “Hot Love” created in 1977, where a blue female figure whose gaze deeply attracted the audience. The flowers in the background clearly showed Ting’s pursuit of American abstract expressionism. Groups of bright colors not only represented the fresh flowers, they were also the perfect representation of Ting’s emotions and youthfulness.
During this period, Ting no longer cared about artistic forms. Instead, he focused on his instinctive senses of colors and romanticism. The contrasting colors portrayed an emotional world full of “women” and “flowers”, expressing the love and affection overflowing from Ting’s heart. Whether it’s love or affection, it is all a part of Ting’s soul. Some say his works are erotic, perhaps the affections were Ting’s main source of inspiration and life force, and the vibrant colors within his paintings were erotic in nature. The colors were his blood and flesh, and it is through these splendid colors that made Ting feel alive.
The young CoBrA artists abandoned dogma and theories, and advocated for a new form of art that was based on freedom and an optimistic look on life; their painting techniques broadly paralleled those of expressionism, and their unrestrained use of a variety of colors was their way of breaking out from the traditional aesthetic forms and the pursuit of a bourgeois society. Elements of folk and primitive arts were incorporated on top of the exaggerated and instinctive styles. These novel ideas and artistic forms provided Ting with new creative inspirations; he gradually changed his painting style and started to experiment with new themes and topics. In 1958, Ting relocated to New York, where he encountered the popular style known as abstract expressionism. Ting was deeply attracted by the unlimited freedom and self-expression in their artistic philosophies. In particular, the idea of using dots, lines, and colors to express one’s fantasies was a perfect match with Ting’s debonair attitude. Since then, he was immersed in the world of American abstract expressionism. “Pop art”, another art movement in New York, was also very influential at the time; its impact was felt all over the US, and the pop artists’ probe into American popular culture was quite compatible with the child-like elements in Ting’s work. Having absorbed the essences of three important artistic movements in Europe and the United States, Ting began his luxurious and delightful journey into the world of colors, which translated into a visually powerful and dazzling experience of the senses for his audience.
By the 1970s, Ting has gathered a tremendous creative energy having spent more than ten years in New York. While his artistic style changed from abstract to figurative paintings, “women” was always his favorite topic where he spent most of his energy. While living in New York, Ting began to develop a style which the strokes were strong and wild, the colors vibrant, proud, and unconventional, an approach reflecting Ting’s character. One cannot deny that the city itself, free, innovative, and blooming with culture, also took part in shaping Ting’s unique style. During the 1970s, as his focus transformed from abstract to figurative paintings, his state of mind also began to change. He spent large amounts of time painting “women”, his favorite topic. During this period, the lines in his works demonstrated similar styles from Fauvism. In actuality, during his early days in Europe, the CoBrA artists already provided Ting with the inspirations for a similar style. With an overall exaggerated tone, the female figures on Ting’s canvas are sometimes graceful, sometimes passionate, but always charming. The most representative work is “Miss World”, a large painting completed in 1975. In his 1976 painting “Kiss Me Under the Moonlight”, a near-black background captures the dreaminess of the night, a female form lying on her side is outlined with simple crayons, lazily supporting her head with her hand as she looks ahead with a confident and comfortable attitude - she is proud and happy with her beautiful figure. The artist has neatly portrayed all the charms of the lady, and the unconventional way of depiction demonstrated the confidence and liveliness of the artist himself. Ting chose dark blue to tone down the overall expression, creating a sense of mystery as deep as the azure ocean. Another work from the same period is “Hot Love” created in 1977, where a blue female figure whose gaze deeply attracted the audience. The flowers in the background clearly showed Ting’s pursuit of American abstract expressionism. Groups of bright colors not only represented the fresh flowers, they were also the perfect representation of Ting’s emotions and youthfulness.
During this period, Ting no longer cared about artistic forms. Instead, he focused on his instinctive senses of colors and romanticism. The contrasting colors portrayed an emotional world full of “women” and “flowers”, expressing the love and affection overflowing from Ting’s heart. Whether it’s love or affection, it is all a part of Ting’s soul. Some say his works are erotic, perhaps the affections were Ting’s main source of inspiration and life force, and the vibrant colors within his paintings were erotic in nature. The colors were his blood and flesh, and it is through these splendid colors that made Ting feel alive.