For International Women’s Day, we’re spotlighting four women at Sworders and the opportunities, learning and support that have shaped their careers.
8 March 2026
Liu Kuo-Sung
A Closer Look At Contemporary Asian Art
Asian Art specialist Yexue Li discusses the expanding contemporary Asian art market within the industry as we take a closer look at the work of the modernist Chinese painter, Liu Kuo-Sung.
Liu Kuo-Sung
And There Was Light
Sold - £12,350
Alongside many works of art from the dynastic period, Sworders Asian Art auction which took place on 6 November included a work by the father of modern Chinese ink paintings, Liu Kuo-Sung (Liu Guosong, b.1932).
Asian Art specialist Yexue Li believes it could be the first of many contemporary Chinese paintings to make an appearance as this niche market begins to grow.
And There Was Light, a work on paper signed and dated 1968, was exhibited by London dealer Hugh Moss in 1971 and was acquired through a private collection in London.
One of a series of abstracts influenced by light emitted from traditional Chinese lanterns, it predates by a year Liu Kuo-Sung’s better-known Spacescape paintings that were inspired by films of the Apollo mission. Liu merged the notion of outer space with the artistic practices of the Song Dynasty - the Chinese practice of observing and portraying scenes from an aerial viewpoint. And There Was Light sold for £12,350 (including BP) and viewers can expect for see more modern Chinese paintings in the future.
“Works by important Chinese post-war artists that were sold in the West in the 1960s, 70s and 80s are now coming to market with great results,” says Yexue. “The clever mix of the ancient and modern seen in contemporary Chinese painting is proving popular with a new generation of collectors. Prices are rising so we hope to focus more on this market next year and beyond.”
click here to find out more about our Asian Art department.
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