보존과학회지 (Journal of Conservation Science)

  • 제37권4호
  • /
  • Pages.322-339
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  • 2021
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  • 1225-5459(pISSN)
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  • 2287-9781(eISSN)
한국문화재보존과학회 (The Korean Society Of Conservation Science For Cultural Heritage)
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From Paris and Shanghai to Singapore: A Multidisciplinary Study in Evaluating the Provenance and Dating of Two of Liu Kang's Paintings

  • Lizun, Damian (Heritage Conservation Centre, National Heritage Board)
  • 투고 : 2021.06.18
  • 심사 : 2021.07.22
  • 발행 : 2021.08.31
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초록

This paper focuses on the dating and provenance of two paintings, Climbing the hill and View from St. John's Fort by the prominent Singaporean artist Liu Kang (1911-2004). Climbing the hill, from the National Gallery Singapore collection, was believed to have been created in 1937, based on the date painted by the artist. However, a non-invasive examination unveiled evidence of an underlying paint scheme and a mysterious date, 1948 or 1949. These findings prompted a comprehensive technical study of the artwork in conjunction with comparative analyses of View from St. John's Fort (1948), from the Liu family collection. The latter artwork is considered to be depicting the same subject matter. The investigation was carried out with UVF, NIR, IRFC, XRR, digital microscopy, PLM and SEM-EDS to elucidate the materials and technique of both artworks and find characteristic patterns that could indicate a relationship between both paintings and assist in correctly dating Climbing the hill. The technical analyses were supplemented with the historical information derived from the Liu family archives. The results showed that Climbing the hill was created in 1948 or 1949 on top of an earlier composition painted in Shanghai between 1933 and 1937. As for the companion View from St. John's Fort from 1948, the artist reused an earlier painting created in France in 1931. The analytical methods suggested that Liu Kang used almost identical pigment mixtures for creating new artworks. However, their painting technique demonstrates some differences. Overall, this study contributes to the understanding of Liu Kang's painting materials and his working practice.

키워드

과제정보

The author would like to acknowledge the National Gallery Singapore for allowing the investigation of the painting Climbing the hill; the Heritage Conservation Centre for supporting this study; Gretchen Liu for allowing the investigation of the painting View from St. John's Fort and for sharing the artist's archives; Kenneth Yeo Chye Whatt (Principal Radiographer from the Division of Radiological Sciences at Singapore General Hospital) and Dr Steven Wong Bak Siew (Head and Senior Consultant from the Department of Radiology at Sengkang General Hospital) for facilitating the X-ray radiography. The author wishes to thank Hanna Szczepanowska PhD at West Virginia University for her comments, which were essential for making further improvements to the paper. The author also would like to thank to the reviewers for their comments and hints related to the quality of the article.

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