Iron Bridge Series
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1970 Oil on board 61 x 91.5 cm Signed on the reverse CHUA HU in English and Cheng in Chinese, dated -1970- |
Estimate
580,000 - 680,000 138,100 - 161,900 17,700 - 20,700
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Sold Price
708,000 167,415 21,438
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Born in 1929 and lived in the Philippines for half a century, the Chinese painter Chua Hu was discovered by auction houses in recent years. In paint ing circle, he has become a bright rising star, attracting more and more attentions. In fact, he has very fine qualifications and experience. In a strictly-selected Who's Who in International Art Edition published in Switzerland in 1991 and 1992, Chua's painting history was mentioned where as Chu Teh-chun, who lived in France, was also introduced. That was before the 1993 and 1994 editions in which Zao Wou-ki was recommended. In painting circles, many people were not familiar with Tsai, simply because he does not like socializing. He sometimes becomes a "missing population" which means his absence from social life.
The auction work, Iron Bridge Series, was made by him in 1960, ten years after he disappeared from the painting circle. It is also a rare 'yellow colored' work in his blue 'iron bridge' period. It is like a smile emerged from his melancholic personality. He adopts a contrast between yellow and blue in chromatics and undecorated rough lines to create a lively, energetic, and interesting picture. In the composition, he arranged the three small boats in the front and the crane-like machine in the lower right hand corner to cushion and stabilize the "restlessness" of the iron bridge. For colour, he uses touches of red, orange and white to reconcile the contrast between yellow and blue. Under his skillful brush, the whole picture makes the viewer feel 'extremely enriched' even the use of colour is not complicated.
In this half-abstract masterpiece made by Chua Hu 37 years ago, in the viewpoint of art history, one can realize that its style is connected with Western impressionism, fauvi sm, express ionism, and other creative art movements of modern times. If Liao Chi-chun's Venice is described as "brilliant and romantic" one can use "vigour and beauty in the sunlight" to describe Chua Hu's Iron Bridge.