Oil on paper

38.3 x 53.5 cm.15 x 21 in.

PROVENANCE
23 Apr 2016, SBI Tokyo Spring Auction, Lot 59
Private Collection, Asia

Swirling Purple, Vibe of the Mind

Born in 1928, Kyoto, Toshimitsu Imai determined to be an artist in his youngest days. Right after his works shined at Salon de L'Art Sacré in the 1953 Paris, Toshimitsu Imai met Michel Tàpies via their mutual friend Sam Frances. This friendship soon brought Imai as the first Japanese artist in the art movement Informel. Later, Toshimitsu also invited Michel Tàpies, Sam Frances and Georges Mathieu to travel to Japan in 1957, which made Imai the credit to the connection and interaction between Japanese and European artists. Untitled, presented in this auction, is a glorious practice of his art theory.

Galerie Stadler held a personal exhibition of Toshimitsu Imai in 1957, with the critic Takiguchi Shuzo saying, “Imai's dedication to the human condition extends itself to man's interrelationship with nature, and can even be seen to exude a 'sympathy for the magic of earth and fire of ancient Japanese potters'.” In work Untitled, he applied the sculptural way to shape the energy of brushstroke, enhancing the mysterious purple. The intense paint applied on the thin paper formed profuse texture, creating a dynamic vibe amid lines and presenting us a swirling of fire and iron. The artist unfolded his mind on the paper, used paint to strength his power, and showed us the true determination to the ongoing exploration.

Price estimate:
HKD: 20,000 – 40,000
USD: 2,600 – 5,100

Auction Result:
HKD: 25,960