Lot #56: MING TU Original Oil on Canvas, "Memory in the Summer" 1991, Large Framed (b. 1955)

Title: Memory in the Summer Artist: Ming Tu (Ying-Ming Tu, b. 1955) Medium: Oil on Canvas Date: August 20, 1991 Signature: Signed, titled, and dated by the artist in the lower right quadrant. An expansive and masterfully executed original contemporary oil painting on canvas. The composition features a beautifully balanced, ethereal summer landscape bathed in soft, misty light. Two elegantly rendered female figures—one in a flowing white dress and the other in a vibrant golden yellow dress holding a bicycle—rest in quiet contemplation beneath the sprawling canopy of an ancient, dramatically angled tree. Tu uses an atmospheric, impressionistic brush technique to capture the hazy, luminescent qualities of midsummer humidity and filtered sunlight, imbuing the scene with a profound sense of nostalgia and serenity. About the Artist & Significance:Ying-Ming Tu (widely known in the international fine art community as Tu-2) boasts one of the most uniquely diverse backgrounds in contemporary art. Born into a Hakka family in Taiwan, his formidable early life included rigorous training in traditional martial arts and serving as an elite military police bodyguard to General Chiang Kai-shek. Seeking a life devoted to peace and creative expression, he emigrated to the United States, completed advanced studies in film and television at UCLA, and famously broke into the commercial art world drawing animation for the iconic television series King of the Hill. As a fine artist, Tu’s works have been exhibited internationally across Taipei, Los Angeles, and Belgium. His creative philosophy shifted heavily toward deep spiritualism, humanitarian activism, and meditative tranquility. Notably, his peaceful paintings caught the attention of civil rights icons; his artwork was deeply admired by Mrs. Rosa Parks and was proudly displayed inside her personal room at the historic O Museum in The Mansion in Washington, D.C. Dating back to August 1991, Memory in the Summer represents a pristine, rarely-seen early milestone from Tu's highly sought-after meditative landscape era. While much of his later 2000s catalog leans toward intimate portraiture, charcoal sketches, and bold graphic commentaries, this piece showcases his master-level command of large-scale canvas oil blending and atmospheric light control. Given the substantial 38.5-inch exhibition framing profile, documented signature provenance, and historic ties to prominent mid-century collectors, this represents a premier acquisition opportunity. Pieces of this scale, condition, and early era carry an excellent investment outlook for collectors of contemporary Asian-American fine art. PICKUP NOTE: Access Storage - ample parking. Do not go to the front office - Please come to loading dock ramps and see our team member with your lot numbers/ invoice. Dimensions: 38.5" x 30.5" Pickup category timeslot {B}