Chen Yifei Musician

• LOT

  1807

• Artist

  Chen Yifei ( 1946 - 2005 )

• Estimate

  12,000,000 - 36,000,000 521,739 - 1,565,217 600,000 - 1,800,000 2,400,000 - 7,200,000 75,000 - 225,000

  JPY RMB HKD TWD USD

• Result

  Members only

• Details

  oil on canvas　framed　
  signed
  Publication: "EXHIBITION IN JAPAN '90 CHEN YIFEI" P.32, Seibu Department Stores, 1990
  Exhibited: CHEN YIFEI Exhibition (Tokyo / Seibu Department Stores) 1990
  
  CHEN YIFEI was an artist who bridged China and the West, tradition and modernity, and may aptly be described as a "translator of cultures." While studying Western art in New York, he remained deeply rooted in the poetic sensibility and spiritual essence of Chinese culture, developing a distinctive style of Romantic Realism characterized by elegance, lyricism, and refined composition. His works often combine Western painting techniques with traditional Chinese aesthetics, creating a visual language that is both contemporary and deeply connected to Chinese cultural memory.
  Whether depicting the waterways of Jiangnan, the elegant ladies of old Shanghai, or the people and landscapes of Tibet, Chen transformed diverse subjects into poetic images imbued with nostalgia and timeless beauty. Through his sophisticated use of light, color, and atmosphere, he conveyed not only the appearance of his subjects but also a profound sense of emotion and cultural identity. His artistic vision transcended cultural and geographical boundaries, helping bring Chinese contemporary art to the international stage and securing his position as one of its most influential and widely celebrated artists.
  After moving to the United States, Chen gradually attracted international attention for his distinctive painting style, which combined Eastern aesthetic sensibilities with Western realist techniques. He held exhibitions at institutions including Hammer Galleries in New York, and his works received a strong response from the art market. From the late 1980s to the early 1990s, during a period of remarkable activity in the Japanese art market, Chen also turned his attention to Tokyo, where he held an important solo exhibition at Seibu Department Store.
  The present work was one of the works exhibited at Chen's 1990 exhibition at Seibu Department Store in Tokyo. It is accompanied by clear exhibition and catalogue documentation. The subject matter, artistic style, signature, and date are all consistent with Chen's artistic practice of the period and with the relevant published materials, establishing a clear and well-documented provenance.
  What makes this work particularly noteworthy, compared with works more commonly seen on the market, is its traceable history extending back to the 1990 exhibition in Japan. It is not only a significant work from Chen's mature period, but also an important testament to the artist's entry into the Japanese market and the growing attention he received from collectors across Asia. The clear exhibition history, reliable catalogue documentation, and well-established provenance mutually reinforce one another, endowing the work with exceptional value for both collection and scholarly research.
  
  Chen Yifei's "Musician Series," created in the 1980s, takes music as its subject matter, yet finds its essence not in performance itself, but in silence. In this work as well, the woman holding a flute is not depicted in the act of playing, but in the quiet moments that precede or follow performance. The restrained palette and dramatic contrasts of light and shadow emphasize the subject's inner world, imbuing the composition with a sense of tension and lingering resonance. Moving beyond realism to convey emotion, the work clearly reflects Chen Yifei's pursuit of "Romantic Realism."
  
  The exhibition catalogue EXHIBITION IN JAPAN'90 CHEN YIFEI, published by Seibu Department Store in 1990, reproduces a work by Chen Yifei on p. 32. The signature appearing on the reproduced work corresponds with that on the present work in the formation of the letters, brushwork, and overall shape.
  
  61.0×56.0cm
  (24 × 22 in.)　

• Organizer

  Jo's Auction

• Auction

  Jo’s Auction Autumn Auction of Art Works 2026

• Catalog

  Contemporary Art/Modern&Post-War Art

• Date

  2026/10/21