 |
| Execution |
| Yue Minjun, 1995 |
| Oil painting |
| 150 × 300[1] cm, 59.05 × 118.11 in |
Execution is a Chinese art painting by Beijing artist Yue Minjun. The piece was inspired by the Tiananmen Square protests of 1989.[2] Though the artist have also mentioned through translation that the art should not depict what happened at Tiananmen square.[2] In 2007 it became the most expensive work sold by a Chinese contemporary artist.[3]
Contents |
History
Yue Minjun painted the oil painting in 1995 in a month. He sold the painting to Hong Kong art dealer Manfred Schoeni for $5,000.[2] Trevor Simon, investment banker, stumbled across the painting in 1996 in the back of a Hong Kong gallery. He convinced Schoeni to sell the piece for HK $250,000 / US $32,200. The painting was then shipped from Hong Kong to London, where Simon stored it in a warehouse. Under the terms, the painting was to remain out of sight for 5 years in a warehouse.[1] As of 2007, Execution would become the most expensive work of Chinese contemporary art sold for British pound £2.9 million / US $5.9 million / Euro €4.2 million at London's Sotheby's.[2] The art piece has been billed by Sotheby's as "Among the most historically important paintings of the Chinese avant-garde ever to appear at auction."[2] Simon has called Yue a brave man for painting something as politically dangerous as this.[1]
Artist's comments
The artist, Yue, disagrees with the notion that his paintings are a veiled criticism of his government or of Chinese society, and he does not believe his work will bring him trouble.[2]
| “ | "I want the audience not to think of one thing or one place or one event. The whole world's the background. As I said, the viewer should not link this painting to Tiananmen. But Tiananmen is the catalyst for conceiving of this painting."[2] | ” |
Comparison
The painting has been compared to The Third of May 1808 and The Execution of the Emperor Maximilien of Mexico.[2]
References
- ^ a b c CNN Edition Oct 12 2007 world news. Painting's owner 'un-Executed'. Retrieved 10-14-2007.
- ^ a b c d e f g h CNN Edition Oct 11 2007 world news. 'Execution' artist rejects Tiananmen label. Retrieved 10-14-2007.
- ^ Thestaronline.com Thestar Oct 13, 2007. Chinese painting sets sales record at London auction. Retrieved Oct 14, 2007.
