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 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 by bidder 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 - "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) 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) 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) 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) 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) 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 - "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) 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 - "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 - "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) 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)

Sotheby's Contemporary Asian Art Auction In Hong Kong (April 2): Top Classic Lots To Watch

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Published March 19, 2012

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Sotheby's Contemporary Asian Art Auction In Hong Kong (April 2): Top Classic Lots To Watch