Artist Kim Whan-ki's Work Fetches Record Price in Hong Kong

Published on 2019/12/01 | Source

Kim Whan-ki's "Universe 5-IV-71 #200" is being auctioned at Christie's auction house in Hong Kong. /Yonhap

The late abstract master Kim Whan-ki has topped a record auction price for a Korean art work he himself set just last year.

His painting titled "Universe 5-IV-71 #200" was sold for W13.2 billion at a Christie's auction in Hong Kong (US$1=W1,178). It is the first time that a Korean art work has fetched more than W10 billion at an auction.

In May last year, Kim's red-dot painting "3-II-72 #220" was sold for W8.5 billion in Hong Kong.

The auction created a buzz in the Korean art world after news that Kim's doctor, who owned the painting, was going to sell it. Dr. Kim Jung-joon (91) tended to the artist in the U.S. until his death in 1974.

"Universe" is the only diptych painted by Kim and his largest work.