Jonathan Crockett, Deputy Chairman and Head of 20th Century and Contemporary Art, Asia, at the rostrum as bidding concluded on Zao Wou-Ki's 04.01.79, the largest painting by the artist from the 1970s to come to auction
Kicking off a week of auctions in Hong Kong, our 20th Century & Contemporary Art & Design Evening Sale realized HK$233.6 million (US$ 29.8 million)—our highest sale total ever in Asia.
The star lot of the evening was Zao Wou-Ki's 04.01.79, which, standing at an impressive height of two-and-a-half meters, represents the modern Chinese master's transition to his late period of abstract paintings. Presented publicly at auction for the first time, 04.01.79 is the artist's largest painting from the 1970s and one of his ten largest works on the market.
Jonathan Crockett, Deputy Chairman, Asia, commented: "The outstanding results of tonight's sale — our highest-achieving auction in Asia to date, straight off the back of our highest sale totals in both London and New York — confirm that our strategy of offering works of the highest quality and rarity from around the world continues to ring true with our ever-growing collector base in Asia."
Another stand-out result was Zhang Xiaogang's Bloodline: Big Family No.9, a work from the artist's signature style from his seminal 'Bloodline' series. The intimate family portrait accented the successful 'Pioneers of Modernism: A Selection from the Scheeres Collection', which saw a 100% sell-through rate over the course of the evening, including a new world auction record for Richard Lin as well as for a work on paper by the artist.
Isaure de Viel Castel, Head of Department, 20th Century & Contemporary Art, Hong Kong, continued: "Among the top five results was Jean Dubuffet's Le Chien Rôdeur, which was well-received by collectors in Asia. Further works by Western artists that established great prices were the two sculptures and a painting by American artist KAWS and two paintings by George Condo. Outstanding results were also achieved for works of 20th-century Danish and Italian Design, with 100% of our design pieces sold."
Rare and important photographs by Thomas Struth and Andreas Gursky, taken in Japan and Hong Kong, respectively, capped nearly two and a half hours of spirited bidding from our Hong Kong saleroom.
Hong Kong 20th Century & Contemporary Art | Top 10 Results
Zao Wou-Ki 04.01.79, 1979. Sold for HK$69,850,000 (US$8,905,875).
Zhang Xiaogang Bloodline: Big Family No.9, 1996. Sold for HK$38,350,000 (US$4,889,625).
Fang Lijun Series 2 No.10, 1992-1993. Sold for HK$9,700,000 (US$1,236,750).
Jean Dubuffet Le Chien Rôdeur, 1955. Sold for HK$7,540,000 (US$961,350).
George Condo Black Standing Figures, 2000. Sold for HK$7,540,000 (US$961,350).
Takashi Murakami MPGMP, 1960->2012, 2012. Sold for HK$7,300,000 (US$930,750).
Lee Ufan From Line No. 800139, 1980. Sold for HK$6,700,000 (US$854,250).
KAWS FINAL DAYS, 2014. Sold for HK$5,620,000 (US$716,550).
Christine Ay Tjoe ...to See the White Land, 2012. Sold for HK$5,260,000 (US$670,650).
KAWS Untitled, 2009. Sold for HK$5,260,000 (US$670,650).
New World Auction Records
Tomoo Gokita Women in Crime, 2015. Sold for HK$2,740,000 (US$349,350), a world auction record for the artist.
Richard Lin Three Four Five, 1969. Sold for HK$5,140,000 (US$655,350), a world auction record for the artist.
Richard Lin Composition, 1958. Sold for HK$2,740,000 (US$349,350), a world auction record for a work on paper by the artist.
READ MORE:
Zao Wou-Ki: A Triumph Over Adversity
Zhang Xiaogang: In Conversation
Pioneers of Modernism: An Introduction from Collector Nick Scheeres
Spotlight on George Condo Portraiture
Final Days: KAWS' Intrepid Icon