The second annual sale of Asobi: Ingenious Creativity – Japanese Works of Art from Antiquity to Contemporary takes place at Christie’s, South Kensington on October 15 during Frieze week. From its inception to the present day, there is a joie de vivre that runs through Japanese culture and is apparent throughout the visual arts. Asobi gokoro, or ‘the playful heart’ manifests itself in an endless play with form, from wilful distortion to tongue-in-cheek humour; light-hearted treatment of serious themes to the juxtaposition of unexpected elements. The leitmotif of the sale, Asobi connects prehistoric ceramics, 16th/17th century screens and 20th century avant-garde painting and photographs. Comprising over 170 lots the sale is led by a magnificent panel by Shibata Zeshin (1807 – 1891) the only exhibition panel of this scale to come to auction (£600,000-800,000).
Panel by Shibata Zeshin (1807-1891) (£600,000-800,000). Courtesy Christie’s Images Ltd., 2014
Untitled 1965 by Kazuo Shiraga (£150,000-250,000). Courtesy Christie’s Images ltd., 2014
A 16th century two fold screen repressenting the Chomeiji Temple pilgrimage mandala (£500,000-700,000). Courtesy Christie’s Images Ltd., 2014.