By Xu Aiying and Hahm Hee-eun

A painting featuring red dots by the abstract master Kim Whan-ki (1913-1974) broke auction records in the Korean art world.

Kim’s dotted painting, titled "3-II-72 #220" (1972), sold for KRW 8.5 billion at Seoul Auction’s Hong Kong sale, at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Hong Kong on May 27.

Kim Whan-ki was a leading artist in globalizing modern art, and his works of art defused Korean sentiments into modernism.

The red-dotted painting, which was created during his stay in New York, is one of his works that are reckoned to have been created when he was at his artistic peak. The 202-by-254-cm canvas is covered with patterns of red dots and diagonal lines. In the top middle part of the canvas blue dots form an upside-down triangle, making a strong contrast between the colors.

Most of Kim’s dotted paintings are filled with blue dots, and only a few of his works have red dots. The scarcity of his red-dotted paintings let to an opening bid of KRW 7.7 billion, a relatively high for the opening.



Lee Ok-kyeong, CEO and vice chairperson of Seoul Auction, said, “The level of awareness of Kim Whan-ki’s paintings is increasing in both Korea and abroad.” She further explained that, “In particular, his red-dotted painting for this auction was superior in all aspects, including size, colors and forms. This is why the value of the painting has been recognized.”

Up to now, the highest auction record for a work of art by a Korean citizen was set by another one of Kim Whan-ki’s paintings, "Tranquility 5-Ⅳ-73 #310" (1973), which went for KRW 6.5 billion in April 2017. Currently, the top six works of art by Koreans that have the highest record prices are all Kim Whan-ki paintings.



Meanwhile, the Kim Whan-ki Exhibition is being held at the Daegu Art Museum from May 22 to Aug. 19. Around 100 of his works, and 100 personal items, such as photographs, books, materials, and videos, are on display, giving visitors a chance to experience Kim Whan-ki’s oeuvres at different stages of his life.

Former exhibitions of the works of Kim Whan-ki have been held at the Gallery Hyundai in 2012, and the 100th anniversary of Kim Whan-ki’s birth was commemorated at the Gwangju Museum of Art in 2013. This time, the Daegu Art Museum has opened a large-scale exhibition to commemorate the 105th anniversary of Kim Whan-ki’s birth.