PROVENANCE:
Bruun Rasmussen Auction, Copenhagen, September 24, 2013, lot 737

A self-proclaimed “Casanova”, Walasse Ting compared himself to a colorful butterfly fluttering amongst fragrant blossoms and collecting nectar. But, what he actually collected were vibrant and scintillating colors which were transformed through his unique and refined techniques into paintings bursting with mesmerizing vitality, undying odes to the wonders of life. “Mia & Alex” a work completed in 1976, is a perfect representation of Ting’s brilliant finesse in the transposition of colors. He integrated Fauvism’s bold use of color tones, utilized different layers of hues to replace the layout of space between single visual points, and incorporated the Abstract Expressionistic drip painting style to present the two smiling girls surrounded by bright verdant flowers and foliage. This work is one of the artist’s signature pieces showcasing the crystallization of his style. In particular, the painting was created on a large sheet of canvas, making it one of the rare creations of Ting who had created the majority of his works on paper.

As a connoisseur of fine food and lovely women, Ting was an adept in discovering beauty and embracing life to the fullest, but painting had always been his deepest passion. In 1952, a 20-something Ting left home for Paris in pursuit of his dream where he explored an abundance of abstract styles to interpret emotional and spiritual expressions. In 1958, the artist moved from Paris to New York where he discovered the exuberance of Abstract Expressionism and the blossoming of Pop Art. Under the impact of the local energetic artistic scene, he returned to the use of bright colors and began experimenting with dripping the paint on canvas, gradually forming his own personal daring and passionate style. Especially after he entered the 1970s, the theme of women and colorful flowers developed into its mature stage, where intrepidly clashing color blocks and wildly layered tones became the artist’s unique and vivid trademark. Ting was passionate about life and he fully embraced all the wonders that the world had to offer. In the works from his mature stage, whether it was women, flowers, stallions or parrots, they all exhibited a lavish splendor and displayed a sensory appeal. But such vivacious and defined subjects were portrayed with a technique that was imbued with the essence of Abstract Expressionism. Through the depiction of such tangible objects, Ting’s works burst with a profuse joy for the tangible but at the same time, exude a powerful sense of emotive allure, deeply stirring the soul of the viewer through the richness and warmth of life.

In Ting’s rare work on canvas, “Mia & Alex”, the main subjects of the painting are the female figures on the left and right side of the scene. The overall painting is rich in details which give a sense of completion to the work, while the generous use of colors is lively but not messy. Through these features, one can sense the care and attention which the artist had placed in his creations. The blonde figure in the painting is the artist’s daughter, Mia, while the blue-haired woman is Alex, a friend of the artist. Ting’s works are never restricted by a particular form or style, instead, the focus of his creativity is on the depiction of his ideal beauty, and this painting is no exception. The artist used Mia and Alex as his models, depicting dark-haired Mia with golden hair and light-haired Alex with dark blue hair, once again emphasizing the artist’s creative mode of expressing the symbolism and not the reality. Thus, the blonde figure gazes coyly at the viewer with her green eyes, full of playful flirtatiousness while the blue-haired figure gazes at the distance, lost in thought, giving her an air of mysterious elegance. Both women are charming and lovely, but each in her own distinctive way. Their flowing tresses are decorated with colorful flowers and lush leaves, while on the table before them, there is a feast of wine in glasses and ripe juicy fruits which complement the youthful vitality of the woman. Fresh green leaves spread out without restraint from between the two figures, gently veiling the vivacious red, peach, orange, and blue blooms, projecting an eye-catching vitality and liveliness. Using an almost flat painting-like technique, Ting produced strikingly pure layers of color, while the brushstrokes themselves depict a cheerful rhythmicity. The layout of the scene lacks depth but instead expresses an abundance of layers portrayed by rich and radiant hues which are almost spilling over outside of the frame. The undefinable time setting adds a dream-like atmosphere to the overall scene.

Different life experiences and characteristics give each individual his or her unique path in life. Walasse Ting was drawn by beauty his entire life, he embraced the wonders of life as well as his own passions, and he used paint and brushstrokes to sing his passion for life. In the work “Mia & Alex”, the viewer catches a glimpse of Ting’s straightforward earnestness and his ode of admiration to life. His paintings depict a self-created world, uncaring of the faults of reality or the miseries of the sublime, instead the works are enchantingly fascinating, full of sincerity and uninhibited delight.