Painting commands price that shocked the world（Asian examiner MAY 31 -June 2, 2000）

Asian examiner

Serving The Asian Communities Worldwide

MAY 31 -June 2, 2000  TALIBA MID-WEEK EDITION  ASIAN EXAMINER  13

Painting commands price that shocked the world

UNIQUE ART Collections International Co., Ltd., on May 28 auctioned off Master Wan Ko Yee’s painting titled “Majesty”, which an art collector purchased through a competitive bid of NT$59,000,000 (roughly US$1,960,000).

Wan Ko Yee is a great artists whose paintings cannot be matched by anyone in this day and age. China exhibited eleven of his paintings in an international at exhibition in Philadelphia in 1978. In its desire to display more than two hundred of Wan Ko Yee’s paintings, the Mainland Chinese government built a huge art museum -- the first of its kind in Chinese history.

Master Wan Ko Yee is not only a famous artist, he is also a leader in the world of art. When he was 20 years old, he was the head of the Chinese Painting Research Division of the China Education, Science and Culture Organization. This is a high level organization within art circles in China and its leaders include people such as Chou Ying-Nan, Wu Zhang-Shu, Qian Jun-Tao, Xie Zhi-Liako, Liang Shu-Ming, Wan Lai-Ming and Cang Ke-Jia.

In the entire history of Chinese painting, no other great painter was able to master the amount of artistic skills, the variety of different styles and the diversity of subject matter which Master Wan Ko Yee has mastered. He can paint landscapes, people and other objects, animals, flowers, birds, fish and insects by using the meticulous brushwork style or by using the freehand brushwork style. Whichever style he uses, his paintings are always elegant, grand and full of life.

Master Wan Ko Yee’s skills have reached the highest level in the world when it comes to ink and wash paintings. Thus, in 1991, the World Poets and Culture Congress conferred upon him the title of “Master of Oriental Art” along with a medal. ln 1994, this same Congress conferred upon him the title of the world’s only “Distinguished International Master” -- the highest position possible and is on the same level of honor as a head of state.

The Master is also an ethicist. His books include Selected Philosophical Saying of

Master Wan Ko Yee. He is a singer. There are 14 tapes and CDs containing his songs. And he is a scientist. He has developed two green teas called “Ba Wang Chun” and “Bi Yu Chun”, the best quality teas in the world.