Vallot Auctioneers Brings Work From the “Godfather of Korean Monochrome Art” While the European art market focused on Pablo Picasso, Marcel Duchamp, and Mark Rothko, South Korean visual artist Kim Whan-ki was building a fresh interpretation of Modernism. Inspired by the Color Field painters, Kim forged a strong connection with the geography and culture of his own country. He eventually set the stage for a new wave of Korean abstraction in the latter half of the 20th century. Vallot Auctioneers’ upcoming Art/ Design From Estates and Collections sale, held on December 22nd, 2020, will feature an untitled painting by Kim. Bidding will start at 2:00 PM EST. Before the sale begins, get to know Kim Whan-ki and his role in Korean Modern art. Kim Whan-ki in 1957. Image from The Wall Street Journal/ The Whan-ki Museum. By the early 20th century, Korean art began to feel the cultural influence of both Japan and Europe. Realism was on the rise, as was interest in the new art movements that embraced self-expression in all its forms. Kim Whan-ki, the child of wealthy landowners, came of age during this time of transition. He received his artistic education at Nihon University in Japan. There, he encountered the work of Henri Matisse and Picasso. Fascinated with their use of color and abstraction, Kim returned to Seoul with a solid background in painting and a strong love for his country. Kim’s entrance into Modern art was put on hold by the outbreak of the Korean War in 1950. He spent years living in a Busan refugee camp before moving to Paris. In many ways, the artist’s Paris period continued what he had already started in Seoul. Kim collaborated with other Korean expatriates and honed his skills. A distinctly Korean style arose from his palette even while he lived beyond his native borders. “Do the lines I draw go beyond the limit of the sky?” he wrote while developing his mature style. “Do the dots shine as brightly as the stars? When I close my eyes, I see the rivers and mountains of my country more clearly…