Sarah Cunningham, Lunar Phase, 2020
Estimate HK$350,000 – 550,000
20th Century & Contemporary Art Day Sale, 7 October
Throughout art history, nature’s ethereal beauty has been continuously explored by artists as an ever-captivating source of wonder. The Sunset Series, showcased within Phillips’ Hong Kong 20th Century and Contemporary Art Day Sale, brings together works characterised by vibrant hues used to portray various aspects of nature. It encompasses the works of widely acclaimed artists such as Sarah Cunningham, Miriam Cahn, Guy Yanai, Vivian Springford and many others. Come witness how nature continues to be a wellspring of inspiration.
Sarah Cunningham
Sarah Cunningham, Lunar Phase (detail), 2020
Estimate HK$350,000 – 550,000
20th Century & Contemporary Art Day Sale, 7 October
Lunar Phase is an arresting example of Sarah Cunningham’s semi-abstract landscapes, which invite viewers into a world where the boundaries of reality and imagination are gracefully blurred. Lunar Phase is a vivid tapestry of burgundy and turquoise swirls, which give life to a glowing moon and undulating waves that appear to dance in rhythm with the painting’s expressive strokes. The vibrant colours and dynamic interplay of light and shadow evoke senses of movement, enveloping the viewer in an ethereal tableau where the horizon line tantalisingly evades capture.
Renowned for her poetic and intuitive approach, Cunningham’s paintings are a harmonious blend of vibrant colours and expressive forms that explore the intricate relationship between nature and emotion.
The unveiling of Lunar Phase at the 20th Century and Contemorary Art Day Sale marks a pivotal moment in the British artist’s career — her debut at auction in Asia. This stands as a testament to her growing international acclaim. Her meteoric rise and the recognition of her artistic prowess have been highlighted by successful solo shows and honours, with her works being featured in recent solo shows at prestigious galleries, such as Lisson Gallery in Seoul and Almine Rech in New York.
Daisy Dodd-Noble
Daisy Dodd-Noble, Trees in Deia, 2021
Estimate HK $40,000 – 80,000
20th Century & Contemporary Art Day Sale, 7 October
Daisy Dodd-Noble’s Trees in Deia immerses viewers into a fantastical landscape of cotton candy skies and wispy trees. The surrealist scene features a densely layered forest, stretched against a glorious sunset rendered in pastel shades of pink, orange, yellow, and violet. The work embodies Dodd-Noble’s exploration of an idyllic landscape where reality and the imagined coexist.
The present work was painted from sketches during the artist’s residency in Mallorca with L21 Gallery in 2021 and was featured in the group exhibition, Desire and Anxiety, held at G/ART/EN Gallery in 2021. Dodd-Noble’s brushstrokes are soft and muted, evoking an ethereal landscape scene that seems at once familiar yet otherworldly. Trees in Deia marks a noticeable shift from the way in which she appropriates certain trees as caricatures to a more informed understanding of the native and non-native species, a move seen to address the pressing issues of climate change.
Liang Yuanwei
Liang Yuanwei, 2015.01, 2015
Estimate HK$1,200,000 – 2,200,000
20th Century & Contemporary Art Day Sale, 7 October
“I have always felt that truly great work should be silent like scenery. One experiences its deep meaning when one’s mind moves with it.”
—Liang Yuanwei
As a Chinese painter, Liang Yuanwei has emerged as a leading voice in contemporary art over the past decade. Her richly textured canvases, which recreate floral fabric patterns, shimmer with hints of bright colour, encapsulating the vibrant hues seen in sunsets. Her process-based approach to art-making is slow and laborious, as she constructs her paintings section by section, building up layers of paint applied so thickly that it shapes the surface in a way that appears almost sculpted.
Liang Yuanwei’s work has been exhibited in numerous countries and prestigious venues, including the 54th Venice Biennale China Pavilion in 2011, Behind the Curtain at Palazzo Pisani during the Venice Biennale in 2017, and at Beijing Commune in 2022.
Miriam Cahn
Miriam Cahn, Geträumt, 2004
Estimate HK$200,000 – 400,000
20th Century & Contemporary Art Day Sale, 7 October
In Geträumt, Miriam Cahn’s pointed mountain scene transports viewers into a vibrant landscape perhaps inspired by the Swiss Alps near the artist’s home. Real or imagined, landscapes are a frequent theme in Cahn’s work, which she imbues with a sense of hope. The present work, rendered in fiery hues, is an intimate yet powerful demonstration of the artist's understanding of the emotive qualities of colour.
Cahn’s journey into the realm of vivid colours began in 1994, driven by her fascination with the potent impact of mass media imagery. The transition to a more vibrant palette marked a significant evolution in her artistic style, enabling her to explore and emphasise the emotive qualities of colour more profoundly. Geträumt serves as a powerful testament to Cahn’s mastery in conveying emotion and depth through colour, demonstrating her nuanced understanding and appreciation of the myriad ways in which hues can evoke feelings and resonate with viewers.
Cahn’s works have recently been presented in solo shows at prestigious institutions, including her first major retrospective which just took place at Palais de Tokyo in Paris (February–May 2023), as well as a show at Meyer Riegger, Berlin (2020).
Guy Yanai
Guy Yanai, Saint Martin and the Beggar (after Sassetta), 2019
Estimate HK$150,000 – 250,000
20th Century & Contemporary Art Day Sale, 7 October
Guy Yanai’s Saint Martin and the Beggar (after Sassetta) is a stunning example of the artist’s approach to geometric paintings. His use of coloured stripes of varying lengths and orientations showcases his signature smooth brushwork, achieved through his meticulous wielding of a palette knife and brush to attain levelled depths of field.
The current piece, as its title suggests, references Il Sassetta’s 1433 artwork, where Saint Martin, depicted as a young Roman soldier, is about to share his cloak with a freezing beggar. However, Yanai's version presents a twist by omitting the beggar, leaving Saint Martin looking to his left in solitude, rendering the floating cloak and raised sword as elements of surrealism.
Yanai’s reimagining of the story is both abstract, yet figuratively striking. He effortlessly blurs the line between foreground and background, offering an unforgettable piece. Despite the vibrant colours, Yanai infuses the narrative with a sense of fantasy, prompting viewers to reflect on modern-day values. It raises questions about the prevalence of selflessness in a success-driven society and whether there is any room left for vulnerability, forcing viewers to confront their own morality within this stylised, digital context.
Yanai’s work has recently been shown in solo shows at Harper’s Books in Los Angeles (2023) and KÖNIG GALERIE, Berlin (2022).
Vivian Springford
Vivian Springford, Martinique Series, 1972- 1973
Estimate HK$ 700,000 – 900,000
20th Century & Contemporary Art Day Sale, 7 October
“[Painting is an] attempt to identify with the universal whole... I want to find my own small plot or pattern of energy that will express the inner me in terms of rhythmic movement and colour. The expansive center of the universe, of the stars, and of nature is my constant challenge in abstract terms.”
—Vivian Springford
Painted in 1970, Vivian Springford’s Martinique Series is a prime example of her “one-shot paintings” that are created by her distinctive stain technique — which allows diluted acrylic washes to ripple out from the centre of the canvas. Influenced by the permanence of Chinese calligraphy, Springford achieves brilliant gradations in a single attempt without edits or alteration. Her use of vivid hues in this particular series, surrounded by splatters of rainbow colours, radiates in almost halo-like circles to form an awe-inspiring burst of passion that is both intense and beautiful.
Discover More from 20th Century & Contemporary Art Day Sale >