Sotheby’s Contemporary Asian Art Auction In Hong Kong (Oct 4): Top Lots To Watch

Rare Lots By Zhang Xiaogang, Fang Lijun And Others Round Out Auction Sure To Be Popular With New Chinese Collectors

Last week, we profiled top artists “priced within reach” at the upcoming Contemporary Asian Art auction at Sotheby’s in Hong Kong, set to take place October 4. Though there will definitely be some (comparatively) reasonably priced lots there for the picking, other lots — particularly rare works by Chinese contemporary artists who are particularly coveted by new domestic collectors — are likely to go well above high estimates. As we saw recently at Asia Art Week in New York and at this year’s spring auctions in Hong Kong, the buying power and appetite of Chinese collectors is only increasing. As such, expect to see contentious bidding on October 4 for these, Jing Daily’s “top lots to watch”:

Liu Ye: “Untitled” (1997-1998)

Lot: 680
Oil on canvas
Size: 170 x 200 cm; 67 x 78 3/4″ in.
Estimate: HK$6,000,000-8,000,000 (US$773,000-1,000,000)

Zhang Xiaogang: “Chapter of a New Century – Birth of the People’s Republic of China II” (1992)

Lot: 765A
Oil, Cotton Tape and Black & White Photocopies collaged on canvas, signed in Pinyin & Chinese and dated 1992
Size: 149.4 x 119.4 cm; 58 3/4 x 47 in.
Estimate: HK$21,000,000-23,000,000 (US$2,690,000-2,940,000)

Cai Guo-Qiang: “Life Beneath the Shadow: Issobel Gowdie” (2005)

Lot: 689
Gunpowder and ink on paper
Size: 201.5 x 152 cm.; 79 1/4″ x 59 7/8″ in.
Estimate: HK$1,000,000-1,500,000 (US$129,000-193,000)

Wang Guangyi: “Great Criticism Series: Carlsberg” (2004)

Lot: 698
Oil on canvas
Size: 200 x 200 cm.; 78 3/4″ x 78 3/4″ in.
Estimate: HK$1,200,000-1,300,000 (US$155,000-167,000)

Yang Shaobin: “Untitled” (2005-2008)

Lot: 699
Oil on canvas
Size: 260 x 180 cm.; 102 1/2″ x 70 7/8″ in.
Estimate: HK$1,200,000-1,600,000 (US$155,000-206,000)

Zeng Fanzhi: “Mask Series No. 5″ (1994)

Lot: 713
Oil on canvas
Size: 180 x 150 cm.; 70 7/8″ x 59″ in.
Estimate: HK$9,000,000-15,000,000 (US$1,200,000-1,900,000)

Feng Zhengjie: “Chinese Portrait Series” (2006)

Lot: 716
Oil on canvas
Size: 210 x 300 cm.; 82 5/8″ x 118 1/8″ in.
Estimate: HK$1,000,000-1,500,000 (US$129,000-193,000)

Fang Lijun: “Untitled” (1989)

Lot: 766
Oil on canvas
Size: 81 x 100.5 cm.; 31 7/8″ x 39 1/2″
Estimate: HK$2,400,000-3,000,000 (US$309,000-386,000)

Wang Jinsong: “Modern People (8 Panels)” (1996)

Lot: 774
Oil on canvas
Size: each panel 230.2 x 77 cm.; 90 5/8″ x 20 3/8″ in.
Estimate: HK$3,800,000-4,500,000 (US$490,000-580,000)

Xu Bing: “New English Calligraphy: Hui Neng ‘The Sixth Patriarch of the Zen’ (2 Scrolls)” (2003)

Lot: 788
Ink on paper
Size: 135.9 x 137.2 cm.; 53 1/2″ x 54″ in.
Estimate: HK$400,000-500,000 (US$52,000-64,000)

Wenda Gu: “The Mythos of Lost Dynasties Series”

Lot: 794
Ink on paper
Size: 285.7 x 177.8 cm.; 112 1/4″ x 70″ in.
Estimate: HK$320,000-400,000 (US$41,000-52,000)

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