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An eccentric amalgamation of physical anatomy and human psychology, Circus Composition brilliantly epitomizes American artist George Condo and his wildly inventive contributions to the tradition of portraiture. Drawing from European art history, the avant-garde and popular culture, his whimsical yet often grotesque works are situated between the familiar and uncanny in exploring the limits of the human psyche.
Inspired particularly by Pablo Picasso and the Cubist language, Condo similarly makes use of multiple perspectives to move away from the accurate depiction of reality. Unlike the former’s emphasis on representing physical space however, Condo developed his own mode of psychological cubism, focusing instead on the concept of fragmented internal states and personalities. He explains:“It’s the idea of Cubism — but rather than seeing and depicting this coffee cup, say, from four different angles simultaneously, I’m seeing a personality from multiple angles at once. Instead of space being my subject, I’m painting all of someone’s emotional potentialities at once, and that’s what I’d call Psychological Cubism.”
— George CondoIn Circus Composition, a group of carnivalesque caricatures populate the composition, all possessing the overly modelled features of Condo’s ‘antipodal beings’ – oversized eyes, protruding ears, frenzied stares and ominous grins that defy both traditional portraiture practices and common beauty standards. Set within an empty environment, the characters surround a nude female figure, also typical of the artist’s oeuvre, in a tense face-off.
Detail of the present lot
As the objectified body clashes with macabre representations of split personalities, the viewer is simultaneously confronted by the spectacle at play – the right-most figure stares out of the frame, directly at those observing the scene to solicit a variety of reactions. More than a simple depiction of marginalised characters, Condo transforms them into surrogates of his exploration of human psychology. With rationality and the various states of human consciousness battling for dominance, absurdity, conflict and hysteria become all that remain.
George Condo emerged onto the budding East Village art scene in the 1980s, where he inaugurated the concepts of ‘artificial realism’ and ‘psychological cubism’, terms he coined to denote his hybridisation of contemporary techniques and art historical influences. Having since received both critical and institutional recognition over the years, George Condo represented the United States at La Biennale di Venezia in both 2013 and 2019. Most recently, his solo exhibition at the National Museum Monaco, titled Humanoids, closed on 1 October 2023. The artist’s work has also been extensively collected by prestigious institutions including the Musée National d’Art Modern, Centre Pompidou, Paris; Tate Modern, London; and The Museum of Modern Art, New York, amongst others.Provenance
Simon Lee Gallery, London
Private Collection
Sotheby's, London, 13 October 2012, lot 214
Private Collection
Acquired from the above by the present ownerArtist Biography
George Condo
American • 1957
Picasso once said, "Good artists borrow, great artists steal." Indeed, American artist George Condo frequently cites Picasso as an explicit source in his contemporary cubist compositions and joyous use of paint. Condo is known for neo-Modernist compositions staked in wit and the grotesque, which draw the eye into a highly imaginary world.
Condo came up in the New York art world at a time when art favored brazen innuendo and shock. Student to Warhol, best friend to Basquiat and collaborator with William S. Burroughs, Condo tracked a different path. He was drawn to the endless inquiries posed by the aesthetics and formal considerations of Caravaggio, Rembrandt and the Old Masters.
Δ35
Circus Composition
signed and dated 'Condo 2000' upper left
ink on paper
73 x 52 cm. (28 3/4 x 20 1/2 in.)
Painted in 2000.
Estimate
HK$550,000 - 650,000
€65,000-76,800
$70,500-83,300
Sold for HK$698,500
Angela Tian
Associate Specialist, Head of New Now & Design Sale
20th Century & Contemporary Art, Hong Kong
+852 2318 2058
AngelaTian@phillips.com
New Now & Design
Hong Kong Auction 26 November 2023
1
Mehdi Ghadyanloo
The Eternal Gate
Estimate HK$180,000 - 280,000
Sold for HK$482,600
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2
Laurens Legiers
Ships and Blue Lilies
Estimate HK$100,000 - 150,000
Sold for HK$152,400
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3
Guy Yanai
Normandy
Estimate HK$80,000 - 120,000
Sold for HK$228,600
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4
Oh de Laval
Noisy Excitement
Estimate HK$80,000 - 120,000
Sold for HK$88,900
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5
Albert Willem
Dancing at the Ball
Estimate HK$100,000 - 150,000
Sold for HK$381,000
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6
This lot is no longer available.
7
Yuan Fang
Untitled #01
Estimate HK$100,000 - 150,000
Sold for HK$203,200
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8No Reserve
Hervé van der Straeten
'Miroir Pelote', model no. 360
Estimate HK$60,000 - 80,000 •
Sold for HK$19,050
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9
Gongkan
Freedom
Estimate HK$120,000 - 180,000
Sold for HK$330,200
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10
Kelly Beeman
Cordless Phone
Estimate HK$120,000 - 180,000
Sold for HK$254,000
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11
Xia Yu
Spring Breeze
Estimate HK$40,000 - 60,000
Sold for HK$171,450
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12
Ania Hobson
Tunnel
Estimate HK$80,000 - 120,000
Sold for HK$88,900
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13
Karyn Lyons
Dad's Playboy
Estimate HK$60,000 - 90,000
Sold for HK$127,000
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14
Jade Ching-yuk Ng
Unparalleled Horizon
Estimate HK$120,000 - 180,000
Sold for HK$304,800
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15
Caroline Walker
Study for An Arm's Length
Estimate HK$200,000 - 300,000
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16
Jacob Kjær
Writing desk
Estimate HK$30,000 - 50,000
Sold for HK$38,100
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17
Yayoi Kusama
Coffee Cup
Estimate HK$350,000 - 550,000
Sold for HK$330,200
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18
He Xiangyu
9 Lemons
Estimate HK$40,000 - 60,000
Sold for HK$76,200
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19
Katherine Bernhardt
Pizza Pizza
Estimate HK$250,000 - 450,000
Sold for HK$228,600
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20
Yoshitomo Nara
Untitled (Who Snatched the Babies)
Estimate HK$300,000 - 400,000
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21
Szabolcs Bozó
Green Frog Red Shoes
Estimate HK$150,000 - 250,000
Sold for HK$177,800
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22
Fátima de Juan
Girls and Guns 2
Estimate HK$100,000 - 200,000
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23
Jia Wei (KK)
Ruhua Wilding · Tussock 01
Estimate HK$180,000 - 280,000
Sold for HK$355,600
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24
Yuichi Hirako
Lost in Thought 50
Estimate HK$400,000 - 600,000
Sold for HK$508,000
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25
Laure Mary-Couégnias
The Lovers Crown Their Vows
Estimate HK$80,000 - 120,000
Sold for HK$82,550
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26
Kate Pincus-Whitney
Paradise à la Carte: Fellini’s Cherry
Estimate HK$40,000 - 60,000
Sold for HK$50,800
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27
Janet Fish
Fujis and Pears
Estimate HK$250,000 - 350,000
Sold for HK$254,000
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28
Ole Wanscher
Extendable low table
Estimate HK$30,000 - 50,000
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29
Carlo D'Anselmi
Silent Hour
Estimate HK$60,000 - 90,000
Sold for HK$50,800
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30
This lot is no longer available.
31
Hervé van der Straeten
'Anneau' console table, model no. 206
Estimate HK$150,000 - 200,000
Sold for HK$127,000
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32
Song Dong
Usefulness of Uselessness - Rectangular Window No. 6
Estimate HK$700,000 - 1,000,000
Sold for HK$889,000
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33
Huang Yuxing
Sunrise
Estimate HK$900,000 - 1,500,000
Sold for HK$1,651,000
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34
Julie Mehretu
Six Bardos: Last Breath
Estimate HK$550,000 - 750,000
Sold for HK$508,000
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35
George Condo
Circus Composition
Estimate HK$550,000 - 650,000
Sold for HK$698,500
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36
Chris Huen Sin Kan
Haze In The Studio
Estimate HK$400,000 - 600,000
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37
This lot is no longer available.
38
Liu Ye
Hey!
Estimate HK$3,000,000 - 5,000,000
Sold for HK$3,556,000
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39
Roby Dwi Antono
Ranting
Estimate HK$220,000 - 420,000
Sold for HK$190,500
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40
Mayuka Yamamoto
Band-aided little van Gogh
Estimate HK$250,000 - 350,000
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41
Emi Kuraya
Waiting Time
Estimate HK$80,000 - 120,000
Sold for HK$101,600
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42
ob
Spiral and Spring
Estimate HK$200,000 - 400,000
Sold for HK$177,800
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43
This lot is no longer available.
44
Takashi Murakami
Forest of DOB
Estimate HK$500,000 - 700,000
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45
Takashi Murakami & Virgil Abloh
Flower Belt
Estimate HK$250,000 - 380,000
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46
Stickymonger
Portrait of Today II
Estimate HK$150,000 - 250,000
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47
MADSAKI
Untitled (He-Man and Battle Cat)
Estimate HK$500,000 - 700,000
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48
Jordi Ribes
The Mirror
Estimate HK$150,000 - 250,000
Sold for HK$152,400
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49
Taizo Kuroda
Untitled 41 (Cracked Dai-Sara XI)
Estimate HK$50,000 - 70,000
Sold for HK$76,200
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50
This lot is no longer available.
51
Mogens Lassen
Stool
Estimate HK$12,000 - 18,000
Sold for HK$10,160
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52
Ma Qiusha
You (The Twin Peaks No. 1)
Estimate HK$120,000 - 220,000
Sold for HK$127,000
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53
Arne Jacobsen
Pair of 'Tongue' chairs, model no. 3106
Estimate HK$8,000 - 12,000
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54
Donna Huanca
YMA PIMA
Estimate HK$180,000 - 240,000
Sold for HK$165,100
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55
Zhao Zhao
Sky No. 2
Estimate HK$100,000 - 200,000
Sold for HK$177,800
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56
Fan Zhen
Four-leaf Clover 4
Estimate HK$100,000 - 200,000
Sold for HK$254,000
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57
Wu Qian
Blue 2022-26
Estimate HK$40,000 - 60,000
Sold for HK$101,600
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58No Reserve
Huang Rui
Lake & Water
Estimate HK$80,000 - 120,000 •
Sold for HK$27,940
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59
Sam Francis
Untitled
Estimate HK$120,000 - 220,000
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60
Alberto Pinto
‘Queluz’ cabinet
Estimate HK$40,000 - 60,000
Sold for HK$35,560
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61
Sanyu
Horse and Acrobat
Estimate HK$40,000 - 60,000
Sold for HK$215,900
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62
Hans J. Wegner
'China' chair
Estimate HK$20,000 - 30,000
Sold for HK$30,480
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63
Zeng Fanzhi
Untitled
Estimate HK$240,000 - 350,000
Sold for HK$279,400
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64
Yue Minjun
Contemporary Terracotta Warriors No.5
Estimate HK$200,000 - 300,000
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65
Xue Song
Sun Zhongshan
Estimate HK$250,000 - 350,000
Sold for HK$228,600
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66
Zhu Wei
China China
Estimate HK$300,000 - 500,000
Sold for HK$254,000
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67
Yang Fudong
International Hotel No.11
Estimate HK$200,000 - 300,000
Sold for HK$177,800
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68
Chow Chun Fai
Le Peintre “This is the art which I am chasing after”
Estimate HK$40,000 - 60,000
Sold for HK$82,550
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69
Jing Zhiyong
Conversation
Estimate HK$30,000 - 50,000
Sold for HK$53,340
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70
Franco Albini
Adjustable modular bookshelf or room divider, model no. LB7
Estimate HK$50,000 - 70,000
Sold for HK$114,300
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71
Franco Albini
Pair of 'Luisa' armchairs
Estimate HK$25,000 - 35,000
Sold for HK$53,340
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72
Franco Albini
Demountable octagonal table, model no. TL3
Estimate HK$25,000 - 35,000
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73
Franco Albini
Pair of folding chairs
Estimate HK$20,000 - 30,000
Sold for HK$27,940
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74
Franco Albini
Pair of 'Cicognino' side tables, model no. TN6
Estimate HK$25,000 - 35,000
Sold for HK$40,640
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75
Christian Rosa
God Hopes
Estimate HK$80,000 - 120,000
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76
Ole Wanscher
Desk
Estimate HK$40,000 - 60,000
Sold for HK$57,150
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77No Reserve
Patrick Alston
Feet of Burnt Brass
Estimate HK$30,000 - 50,000 •
Sold for HK$19,050
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78
Aboudia
Untitled
Estimate HK$300,000 - 500,000
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79
Kudzanai-Violet Hwami
hure ra st. peterson (st. peterson's whore)
Estimate HK$300,000 - 500,000
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80No Reserve
Soimadou Ali Ibrahim
Youthful Innocence
Estimate HK$100,000 - 150,000 •
Sold for HK$12,700
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81
Kojo Marfo
Stranger #12
Estimate HK$150,000 - 250,000
Sold for HK$165,100
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82
Edgar Plans
Leccíon de Anatomia (Anatomy Lesson)
Estimate HK$200,000 - 300,000
Sold for HK$304,800
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83
Michael Kagan
Glenn
Estimate HK$150,000 - 250,000
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84
Tania Marmolejo
Should I shouldn't I
Estimate HK$150,000 - 250,000
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85
Madeleine Bialke
Mariners
Estimate HK$30,000 - 50,000
Sold for HK$48,260
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86
This lot is no longer available.
87
Louisa Gagliardi
Pouring
Estimate HK$50,000 - 70,000
Sold for HK$101,600
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88
Gao Hang
Just Freaking Dunked on My Girlfriend
Estimate HK$60,000 - 80,000
Sold for HK$82,550
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89
Gao Ludi
Mr. M
Estimate HK$40,000 - 60,000
Sold for HK$82,550
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90
Du Qiurui
Let Them Eat Cakes
Estimate HK$40,000 - 60,000
Sold for HK$53,340
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91
Noritoshi Mitsuuchi
Dream Catcher
Estimate HK$60,000 - 90,000
Sold for HK$76,200
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92
Jade Kim
Aqua
Estimate HK$80,000 - 120,000
Sold for HK$114,300
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93
Todd Bienvenu
Pillow Fight
Estimate HK$50,000 - 70,000
Sold for HK$228,600
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94
Eliot Greenwald
Night Car (begins to vanish)
Estimate HK$60,000 - 80,000
Sold for HK$50,800
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95
Aks Misyuta
Time Waster
Estimate HK$40,000 - 60,000
Sold for HK$50,800
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96
Miwa Komatsu
Earth Birthing Qilin
Estimate HK$200,000 - 400,000
Sold for HK$203,200
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97
Morgan Blair
The Five of Us All Somehow, Impossibly, Lock Together in a Tangled Web of Sustained, Boundaryless Eye Contact While Our Heartbeats Synchronize and Our Breath Merges Into One Long Slow, Shared Gasp as We Understand...We Are One. We Each Take a Packet of Ramen, Tear the Wrapper off With Our Teeth and Crush the Bricks in Our Hands, Letting the Pieces Tumble Through Our Fingers Like the Scraps of Time and Space Falling Away Around Us, as If to Say, There but by the Grace of Our All-Encompassing Psychic Connection Go We. Mitchell Solieri and the Easy Rollers are Formed.
Estimate HK$50,000 - 70,000
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98
Jordy Kerwick
Untitled
Estimate HK$200,000 - 300,000
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99
Josh Sperling
Composite (224)
Estimate HK$200,000 - 400,000
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100No Reserve
Elaine Chiu
New Lucky House
Estimate HK$12,000 - 18,000 •
Sold for HK$40,640
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101
Alejandro Cardenas
Untitled
Estimate HK$50,000 - 70,000
Sold for HK$57,150
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102
Javier Calleja
Untitled
Estimate HK$350,000 - 650,000
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103
Mr.
I Am Waiting.
Estimate HK$150,000 - 180,000
Sold for HK$139,700
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104
Mr.
All Good Today!
Estimate HK$150,000 - 180,000
Sold for HK$152,400
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105
Roby Dwi Antono
Untitled
Estimate HK$30,000 - 60,000
Sold for HK$38,100
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106
Joan Cornellà
Bootyboop (yellow)
Estimate HK$150,000 - 250,000
Sold for HK$165,100
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107
Joyce Pensato
Little Cattitude
Estimate HK$280,000 - 480,000
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108
Jerkface
Homer
Estimate HK$80,000 - 120,000
Sold for HK$101,600
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109
Daniel Arsham
Coconut Grove Plant
Estimate HK$120,000 - 220,000
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110
Takashi Murakami
Jellyfish Eyes × e-ma Flower Stand Happy Rainbow
Estimate HK$150,000 - 250,000
Sold for HK$495,300
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111
Yayoi Kusama
Pumpkin (set of 5)
Estimate HK$180,000 - 280,000
Sold for HK$279,400
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