Sotheby’s Contemporary Asian Art Auction In Hong Kong (April 2): Top Classic Lots To Watch
Part One Of A Three-Part “Lots To Watch” Series
Zhang Xiaogang's "Bloodline: Big Family: Family No. 2" (Lot 810) is estimated at HK$25 million-30 million (US$3.2-3.9 million)
Coming off a stellar year in the Asian art market, which saw records fall at international auction houses like Christie’s and Sotheby’s and emerging regional powers like China Guardian, all eyes are on Sotheby’s upcoming Contemporary Asian art auction in Hong Kong, set to hit the city on April 2. Following up last autumn’s Contemporary Asian Art auction series, which pulled in HKD227.8 million (US$29.2 million), the highest-ever various-owner sale in the category at Sotheby’s Hong Kong, the upcoming spring auction in Hong Kong will include historical pieces expected to go for millions as well as lower-priced lots that should prove popular with China’s emerging new collector.
Last October, 92 percent of works by Chinese contemporary artists were sold by value at Sotheby’s Contemporary Asian Art auction in Hong Kong, and though the sale’s overall sell-through rate was dinged bybidder apathy towards contemporary Japanese and Korean works, Chinese collectors displayed their growing discrimination and strong preference for top-quality works by historical artists. Expect this increasing sophistication to be on full display in April, as established collectors look to fill in gaps in their collections regardless of price and newer collectors try to stock up on top artists at more attainable levels.
Jing Daily’s top historical or classic Chinese contemporary art lots to watch at the upcoming Contemporary Asian Art auction in Hong Kong:
Wang Guangyi – “Mao Zedong: AO” (1989)
Lot: 806
Oil on canvas
Size: 87 by 63 cm.; 34 1/4 by 24 3/4 in.
Estimate: HK$4 million-6 million (US$515,252-772,878)
Wang Guangyi
Wang Guangyi – “Post-Classical Series: After Mona Lisa” (1988)
Lot: 807
Oil on canvas
Size: 114.2 by 80 cm.; 45 by 31 1/2 in.
Estimate: HK$2 million-3 million (US$257,626-386,439)
Wang Guangyi
Mao Xuhui – “Parents Series” (1989)
Lot: 811
Oil on canvas
Size: 120 by 158.5 cm.; 47 1/2 by 62 1/2 in.
Estimate: HK$1 million-2 million (US$128,813-257,626)
Mao Xuhui
Fang Lijun – “1993.4 ” (1993)
One of the six works specially created for Venice Biennale, 1993
Lot: 816
Acrylic on canvas
Size: 180 by 230 cm.; 70 7/8 by 90 1/2 in.
Estimate: HK$18 million-25 million (US$2.3 million-3.2 million)
Fang Lijun
Yu Youhan – “Chairman Mao” (1995)
Lot: 865
Oil on canvas
Size: 175 by 137 cm.; 68 7/8 by 53 7/8 in.
Estimate: HK$1 million-1.5 million (US$128,813-193,220)
Yu Youhan
Wang Jinsong – “Modern Crowds (Octaptych)” (1996)
Lot: 876
Oil on canvas
Size: 230.2 by 77.1 cm.; 90 5/8 by 30 3/8 in. (each) / 230.2 by 616.8 cm.; 90 5/8 by 242 7/8 in. (overall)
Estimate: HK$3 million-4 million (US$386,439-515,252)
Wang Jinsong
Sui Jianguo – “Legacy Mantle” (2005)
Number 6 from an edition of 6
Lot: 877
Painted aluminium
Size: 140 (H) by 110 by 90 cm.; 55(H) by 43 1/4 by 35 1/2 in
Estimate: HK$700,000-1 million (US$90,169-128,813)
Sui Jianguo
Sui Jianguo – “Dying Slave” (1998)
Numbered 4/6
Lot: 878
Painted bronze
Size: 240 (H) by 95 by 78.7 cm; 94 1/2 (H) by 37 3/8 by 31 in.
Estimate: HK$480,000-555,000 (US$61,836-71,497)
Sui Jianguo
Liu Wei – “You Like Me, Why Not? No. 34″ (1996)
Lot: 887
Oil on canvas
Size: 30 by 40 cm.; 11 3/4 by 15 3/4 in.
Estimate: HK$800,000-1 million (US$103,050-128,813)
Liu Wei
Liu Wei – “A Good Dog” (1995)
Lot: 888
Oil on canvas
Size: 170 by 150 cm.; 66 7/8 by 59 in.
Estimate: HK$12 million-15 million (US$1.55 million-1.9 million)
Liu Wei
Liu Wei – “Swimming” (1994)
Lot: 911
Oil on board and painted wooden frame
Size: 38 by 31 cm.; 15 by 12 1/4 in. (with frame) / 29.5 by 23.8 cm.; 11 5/8 by 9 3/8 in. (without frame)
Estimate: HK$1.8 million-2.5 million (US$231,863-322,033)
Liu Wei
Wenda Gu – “Drama of Two Culture Formats Merge C1-C3″ (Three Works) (1986)
Lot: 912
Ink on Paper
Size: (i) 500 by 95 cm.; 196 7/8 by 37 3/8 in. / (ii) 496 by 95 cm.; 195 1/4 by 37 3/8 in. / (iii) 525 by 95 cm.; 206 5/8 by 37 3/8 in.
Estimate: HK$1.9 million – 2.5 million (US$244,745-322,033)
Wenda Gu
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