"BEING" (界線的共鳴) Exhibition To Feature 30 Works By Zeng, With One To Be Chosen For Charity Auction#
Zeng Fanzhi: "Untitled 08-4-8" (Oil on canvas, 2008). Image courtesy Christie's
Although the auction world is eagerly awaiting the upcoming Ullens Collection and Contemporary Asian Art (April 4-5) auctions in Hong Kong, rival Christie's isn't content to rest on its laurels. Set to take place at the same time as its spring auctions (May 27-June 1) at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Center, Christie's and the Rockbund Art Museum (previously on Jing Daily) will present "BEING" (界線的共鳴), an exhibition featuring 30 works by Zeng Fanzhi, one of China's top contemporary artists, sponsored by the Francois Pinault Foundation. As an added bonus to the exhibition, Zeng will hand-pick one work, to be valued around HK$10 million (US$1.3 million), to be auctioned off at Christie's Asian Contemporary Art & Chinese 20th Century Art Evening Sale on May 28, with proceeds going to the environmental organization The Nature Conservancy.
Zeng, who was recently named "Most Influential Artist" at the Art Power awards in Beijing, has certainly found a fan in event sponsor and luxury mogul Francois Pinault, whose eponymous Foundation develops a continuous program of exhibitions designed to present works from Pinault’s collection to a global audience. Said Francois Pinault, "Whether drawing from abstract or figurative paths, whether resounding in expressionist or meditative tones, works by Zeng Fanzhi derive their exceptional power from a permanent tension between memory and the present, between a strong historical legacy and a contemporary reality that is constantly shifting.”
Rockbund Art Museum held a retrospective for Zeng last year in Shanghai (Image: ML Artsource)
According to Christie's, the charity angle of the “BEING” exhibition is an example of the auction house's interest in promoting Chinese art as well as the environment. “Whether in London, Paris or New York, Christie's has been actively supporting the development of contemporary art as a major collecting field, through special exhibitions and events," said Francois Curiel, President of Christie’s Asia. "We are delighted to now do so in Hong Kong, in collaboration with the Rockbund Art Museum and the support of the François Pinault Foundation, to celebrate the extraordinary work of one of China's most famous artists, Zeng Fanzhi. Thus we will also pay tribute to Hong Kong's emergence as one of the major art capitals in the world, and to the role of Chinese contemporary art in this development."
Thomas Ou, Chairman of the Rockbund Art Museum -- which hosted an impressive solo exhibition of Zeng's work last summer -- said he was glad that the BEING exhibition will allow people in Hong Kong and visitors from different countries the chance to appreciate Zeng's paintings, while reminding them of environmental issues. "Although Rockbund Art Museum is currently closed for refitting," Ou said, "in the meantime, we are actively planning various events to continue to promote the contemporary artworks and enhance the understanding, awareness and support of Chinese contemporary art and culture. This exhibition is one of the many endeavors.”
Zeng Fanzhi: "BEING" (界線的共鳴), May 27-30#
Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre 1 Harbour Road, Wan Chai, Hong Kong
Hall 5E
Hours: 10:30am – 6:30pm
Admission: Free