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Dong KingmanSeoul, Korea1954 - 1956
1954 - 1956
$12,500
£9,448.45
€10,857.95
CA$17,406.17
A$19,363.65
CHF 10,150.67
MX$236,619.13
NOK 129,256.12
SEK 121,676.76
DKK 81,050.48
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About the Item
Seoul, Korea, 1954 - 56, watercolor on paper, signed lower right 21 x 28 inches (sight), Midtown Galleries label with artist’s name and title verso, likely exhibited at Kingman’s solo exhibition, Midtown Galleries, 1956, literature: Gruskin, Alan D., Saroyan, William (introduction), The Watercolors of Dong Kingman and How The Artist Works, The Studio Publications, Inc. in association with Thomas Y. Crowell Company, New York and London (1958), p. 54 (illustrated) (“In Seoul on April 27th and 28th Kingman did some mountain sketching [see reproduction, on page 54, of handsome Kingman painting, “Seoul,” owned by Robert Clary], visited a high school where art is taught. Had many photographs and movies taken of him. On April 28th he went and talked with the Ambassador.” provenance includes Midtown Galleries, New York and the Estate of Robert Clary, Beverly Hills, California, presented in its original frame
In the aftermath of the Chinese communist revolution and the Korean conflict, the US State Department turned to cultural exchanges and ambassadors to extol the virtues of democracy and counteract communist influences. In 1954, Chinese American artist, Dong Kingman became one of the first cultural ambassadors when he was commissioned to undertake a five-month-long journey across Asia and Europe. In addition to lecturing, meeting artists and conducting painting demonstrations, Kingman painted most days. Drawing on the cache of seventy-five watercolor sheets Kingman took on the voyage, he recalled “I went out on the spot and sketched for an hour or so, as I always do. Then I brought the papers home to finish on the original paper, as I find the time for them.” By 1956, he had completed forty-five of the paintings, many of which were shown in the countries in which they were painted before they were returned to the United States and exhibited at the Midtown Galleries in New York City.
Kingman painted Seoul, Korea as part of State Department sojourn. His time in Seoul in late April and early May 1954, was particularly meaningful for Kingman because he was reunited with his son, Eddie, who was serving as a sergeant in the US 1 St Marine Division band near the Demilitarized Zone and was described by Kingman as “a very American boy.” Together, the Kingmans traveled around Seoul before departing for Pusan and Chonju. Deviating from the staid tradition of filing a formal report with the State Department, Kingman compiled a record of his trip including the visit with his son, on a long Chinese style scroll, which was later published in Life magazine.
In Seoul, Korea, Kingman centers the gleaming white structure which served as the Japanese general government building during the occupation and after World War II as the home of the South Korean National Assembly. That Kingman chose to feature the legislative seat of its strong US ally likely reflects Kingman’s interest in promoting the virtues of democracy over vanquished Japan and the important role of the South Korean state in combating communism from North Korea and from China.
- Creator:Dong Kingman (1911 - 2000, American, Chinese)
- Creation Year:1954 - 1956
- Dimensions:Height: 21 in (53.34 cm)Width: 28 in (71.12 cm)Depth: 2 in (5.08 cm)
- More Editions & Sizes:21 x 28 inchesPrice: $12,500
- Medium:
- Movement & Style:
- Period:
- Condition:
- Gallery Location:Los Angeles, CA
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU1859215629652
Dong Kingman
Born in Oakland, CA on March 31, 1911. When Kingman was five, his family moved to Hong Kong where he grew up and attended Lingnan Grammar School. The headmaster of the school, Szetu Wei, had studied painting in Paris and recognized his budding artistic talent. For several years he trained young Kingman in both oriental and occidental approaches to painting. Returning to San Francisco in 1929, Kingman became active in the local art scene and began painting scenes of the city. His first solo show at the San Francisco Art Center in 1936 brought immediate recognition. During the 1930s he spent five years working on commissions for the Federal Public Works of Art Project. During WWII he created maps and charts for the O.S.S. After the war Kingman settled in NYC and taught at Columbia University. His paintings were used as backdrops for the movie "Flower Drum Song" and his watercolors were reproduced in Life and on the covers of Fortune and Holiday magazines. Kingman died in NYC on May 12, 2000. Member: American WC Society; NA (1951). Exh: SFMA Inaugural, 1935; Vallejo Public Library, 1935; Calif. WC Society, 1935-44; San Francisco Art Association, 1936 (1st prize); GGIE, 1939; San Diego FA Gallery, 1943; De Young Museum, 1945 (solo); County Fair (LA), 1949; Philadelphia WC Club, 1950 (medal); NAD, 1975 (gold medal). In: MM; SFMA; Boston Museum; Delaware Museum; Whitney Museum (NYC); MOMA; CHS; Brooklyn Museum; De Young Museum; San Diego Museum; Mills College (Oakland); AIC; NAD; Butler Art Inst. (Columbus, OH); Wilmington (DE) Society of FA; Toledo (OH) Museum; Dartmouth College; U.S. State Dept; Addison Gallery (Andover, MA); Evansville Museum.
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1974-1979 Seoul Music and Art High school. Seoul, Korea
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2006 Artcore Brewery Annex Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
2005 Yemac Gallery, Seoul, Korea
2004 Andrewshire Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
1998 John N Joe gallery, Los Angeles, CA
1995 John N Joe gallery, Los Angeles, CA
1994 Andrewshire Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
1992 LA Artcore Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
1991 Hyo-Chun Gallery, Seoul, Korea
1991 Andrewshire Gallery, Los Angeles
1978 Shin Moon Gallery, Seoul Korea
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2018 Artspace Warehouse Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
2014 Invitational Exhibition of 11 Artists in California, Art center, Seoul Korea
2012 Bring a Friend, Lois Lambert Gallery-Bergamot Station(E-3), Santa Monica, CA
2011 Selected works (3 artists), Lois Lambert Gallery-Bergamot Station(E-3) CA
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2009 Exhibition of Association of Christian Artist, Modern Art Gallery, L.A, CA
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