A 1971 dot painting by acclaimed Korean abstract artist Kim Whanki has fetched 7.8 billion won (approximately $5.9 million) at a Hong Kong auction, becoming the third-most expensive Korean artwork ever sold.
Titled “9-XII-71 #216,” the painting was featured in Christie’s 20th and 21st Century Art evening sale at its new Asia Pacific headquarters, The Henderson, on Thursday. This 2.51-meter-long canvas has remained in a private collection since 2006, making this its auction debut. With fewer than 20 of Kim’s blue dot paintings from the early 1970s ever available at auction, its sale is considered a significant event.
The piece now ranks as the third-highest priced modern Korean artwork, following Kim’s 1971 diptych “05-IV-71 #200 (Universe),” which sold for 13.2 billion won in 2019, and the 1972 red-toned “3-II-72 #220,” which fetched 8.53 billion won in 2018.
Notably, all ten of the most expensive Korean artworks auctioned to date have been created by Kim Whanki. “9-XII-71 #216” features a spiral pattern of cell-like dots, representing a critical evolution in Kim’s artistic style. According to Christie’s, the piece showcases his mastery of tonal variation and spatial depth, marking a significant milestone in his blue palette aesthetics.
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