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“Every piece of work is like a child… Most of the pieces carry emotional attachment. They tell the story of my life.”
— Li ChenBorn in Taiwan in 1963, Li Chen is known internationally as one of the most accomplished contemporary sculptors, honing the remarkable skill of creating divine figures that delicately mesh the spiritual and the sculptural. Characters of all sizes populate his magnificent oeuvre, ranging from the miniature to the monumental. While they may vary in shape and size, there is a common thread that runs through Li’s repertoire — the union of heaven and man. Li’s works are informed by his intense, dedicated commitment to Buddhist philosophy, Taoist teachings, and Chinese literature. He explores higher realms and spiritual meaning, seeking to enlighten viewers through his ethereal aesthetic. Indeed, Li’s art truly expresses the core values of simplicity and purity— his sculptures possess a meditative quality, evoking a sense of inner peace and joy. They resemble celestial, otherworldly beings, leaving behind a lasting impression of their wisdom and vitality.
Executed in 2010 as part of the artist’s The Beacon series, the present work, Angelic Smile, embodies his ongoing search for serenity and mindfulness. The figure is that of a woman, round and full, her head tilted towards the sky. Her expression is modest and honest, embraced by an air of bliss and tranquillity. In her hands is a golden lotus flower, a Buddhist symbol of spiritual awakening and purity that stems from the plant’s ability to rise from murky waters, clean and untainted. Behind her head floats a cloud shaped like a pillow, or even a surreal face, lending a touch of whimsicalness and humour to the otherwise thought-provoking work. Instilled with spiritual verve and a light-hearted sensibility, Angelic Smile is an emblematic piece that enlightens and entertains.
When Night Light Glimmers: The Beacon
“Behind the Beacon is a ceremonial process; its essence lies in ‘Yinze’— the full or diminishing glory of the sun and the moon.”
— Li ChenAmidst a hectic schedule of staging exhibitions both at home and abroad, Li enjoyed a rare moment of peace and quiet one evening in 2009. He lit a long-unused candle that had been left idle on the family's Buddhist altar, and instantly he felt his mood transform, a surge of subtle but genuine joy washing over him. Overwhelmed with feelings of warmth and solitude, Li was inspired to create the The Beacon series, which includes the present lot.
Detail of the present lot For the artist, lighting the candle not only illuminated his surroundings but his mind and soul as well. It constituted an act of recuperation, the ritualistic nature of it bringing him a calm state of mind, which in turn allowed him to communicate with his inner self. Works in this series draw a connection between people and higher places such as towers, pavilions, and the heavens, symbolising the desire to spiritually ascend and reach higher planes of understanding. Blessed with refined skill, constant inspiration, and keen observation, Li provides the modern man, who is often so busy with life that he forgets the feeling of rest, a chance to be invigorated by spirituality and art.
Abundance and Weightlessness
“In the Tang dynasty, the Buddhist sculptures were round and complete. Instead of being empty, they were full. To me, the fatness of my sculptures means tolerance and diversity. They are big and include all human beings…They are filled with the abundance of the world.”
— Li ChenProdigiously conceived and superbly executed, Li masterfully strikes a balance between the heavy bronze of the sculpture and the tranquil weightlessness it conveys, creating pieces that transcend time and space. Human forms are portrayed with well-rounded abundance, their rotund figures suggesting lightness and buoyancy that cleverly juxtaposes the mass of the bronze medium. With their eyes closed in peaceful contemplation and faces rendered in blissful contentment that easily elicits a smile from the viewer, Li’s characters appear as ethereal beings that exist between heaven and earth, floating through life without any attachment to the physical world. The smooth darkness of the sculpture’s surface carries a certain brightness and illumination, stemming from its richness and reflective quality, expressing the virtue of minimalism and simplicity. An investigation into the beauty of contrast, Li’s works are captivating and harmonious, evoking calmness while inviting introspection.
Left: Figure of Padmapāṇi, Tang Dynasty, China, 8th Century
Collection of the British Museum, London
© The Trustees of the British Museum
Right: Detail of the present work‘I am not just making sculptures. I am creating a sense of happiness, a creation that people can enjoy,’ says Li i. Indeed, Li’s sculptures are able to comfort, rejuvenate, and delight the viewer with gentle humour, boundless energy, and a generous spirit, embracing the qualities of zen and transcendence in a confusing, turbulent age. Imbued with childlike innocence and curious wisdom, Li’s works are ideologically an amalgamation of Buddhist and Taoist teachings. Yet, they convey a timeless message of strength and serenity that resonates across all religious and cultural borders.
Collector’s Digest
Internationally and critically acclaimed, Li has received prominent recognition from both critics and collectors alike. In 2007, Li was invited to exhibit his works in a solo show at the 52nd Venice Biennale, an outstanding achievement as he was the first artist from Taiwan to accomplish this, cementing his status in the contemporary art scene as one of the most sought-after sculptors.
Li Chen’s work has been presented in prestigious galleries and museums, with recent solo shows including; Being: In/Voluntary Drift Li Chen Solo Exhibition (2017) at the Museum of Contemporary Art, Taipei; Through the Ages – Li Chen Solo Exhibition (2018-2019) at the Aurora Museum, Shanghai; Ethereal Cloud – Li Chen New Works (2019) at the Asia Art Center, Beijing, among numerous others. The present lot, Angelic Smile, was part of the Greatness of Spirit – Li Chen Premiere Sculpture Exhibition in Taiwan (2011), Taipei, and Monumental Levity: Li Chen 2013 Place Vendôme Premiere Solo Sculpture Exhibition in Paris (2013) — a large-scale outdoor display at the historic Place Vendôme in Paris.
Installation view of a larger example of the present work at Place Vendôme, Paris, 2013 i Li Chen, quoted in Li Chen, When Night Light Glimmers - The Beacon: Li Chen, Taipei, 2010, p. 35, online
Provenance
Asia Art Centre, Taipei
Acquired from the above by the present ownerExhibited
Taipei, Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall & Freedom Square, Greatness of Spirit: Li Chen Premiere Sculpture Exhibition in Taiwan, November - December 2011, pp. 34-35, 116-119, 201 (another example exhibited and illustrated)
Paris, Place Vendome, Monumental Levity of Li Chen: Premiere Sculpture Exhibition in Paris, September 2013, pp. 108-109 (another example exhibited and illustrated)Literature
Li Chen, When Night Light Glimmers - The Beacon: Li Chen, Taipei, 2010, pp. 79-85 (another example illustrated)
Property of a Prominent Collector
24
Angelic Smile
incised with the artist's seal, signature and number 'Li Chen [in Chinese] Li Chen 1/8' on the reverse; further dated '2010' lower right side
bronze
163 x 63 x 71 cm. (64 1/8 x 24 3/4 x 27 7/8 in.)
Executed in 2010, this work is number 1 from an edition of 8, and is accompanied by a certificate of authenticity issued by Asia Art Centre, Taipei.
Estimate
HK$2,000,000 - 3,000,000
€231,000-347,000
$256,000-385,000
Sold for HK$4,284,000
Charlotte Raybaud
Specialist, Head of Evening Sale
+852 2318 2026
CharlotteRaybaud@phillips.com
20th Century & Contemporary Art Evening Sale
Hong Kong Auction 22 June 2022
1
Julie Curtiss
Funky Boots
Estimate HK$600,000 - 800,000
Sold for HK$1,071,000
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2
Jamian Juliano-Villani
Hand's Job
Estimate HK$400,000 - 600,000
Sold for HK$819,000
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3
Lucy Bull
8:50
Estimate HK$1,000,000 - 1,500,000
Sold for HK$11,382,000
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4
Scott Kahn
Soundview
Estimate HK$900,000 - 1,400,000
Sold for HK$4,032,000
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5
Hernan Bas
Who Told Them We Were Coming?
Estimate HK$4,000,000 - 6,000,000
Sold for HK$3,528,000
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6
Shara Hughes
Pleasure House
Estimate HK$3,000,000 - 5,000,000
Sold for HK$6,542,000
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7
Loie Hollowell
Linked Lingam in Red and Blue
Estimate HK$1,800,000 - 2,800,000
Sold for HK$3,024,000
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8
Anna Weyant
Chest
Estimate HK$500,000 - 700,000
Sold for HK$4,158,000
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9
George Condo
Transparent Female Forms
Estimate HK$25,000,000 - 35,000,000
Sold for HK$36,550,000
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10
This lot is no longer available.
11
Matthew Wong
Pink Wave
Estimate HK$16,000,000 - 26,000,000
Sold for HK$22,635,000
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12
David Hockney
Painted Landscape (Or Red and Blue Landscape)
Estimate HK$16,000,000 - 24,000,000
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13
Ed Ruscha
Spied Upon Scene: Window
Estimate HK$3,500,000 - 5,500,000
Sold for HK$3,150,000
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14
Huang Yuxing
Pearl Shore
Estimate HK$1,500,000 - 2,500,000
Sold for HK$3,024,000
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15
This lot is no longer available.
16
Nicolas Party
Two Portraits
Estimate HK$6,000,000 - 8,000,000
Sold for HK$6,542,000
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17
George Condo
The Strangers
Estimate HK$5,000,000 - 6,500,000
Sold for HK$5,670,000
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18
Ernie Barnes
Life After Sundown
Estimate HK$1,500,000 - 2,500,000
Sold for HK$6,048,000
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19
Javier Calleja
1971
Estimate HK$3,500,000 - 5,500,000
Sold for HK$4,032,000
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20
Yoshitomo Nara
Untitled
Estimate HK$6,000,000 - 8,000,000
Sold for HK$7,510,000
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21
This lot is no longer available.
22
Adrian Ghenie
Pie Fight Study 4
Estimate HK$3,500,000 - 4,500,000
Sold for HK$4,032,000
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23
Michaël Borremans
Stars
Estimate HK$2,000,000 - 3,000,000
Sold for HK$2,772,000
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24
Li Chen
Angelic Smile
Estimate HK$2,000,000 - 3,000,000
Sold for HK$4,284,000
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25
Zhang Xiaogang
Bloodline Series - Big Family
Estimate HK$7,500,000 - 10,000,000
Sold for HK$8,115,000
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26
Zhang Enli
Things
Estimate HK$2,200,000 - 4,200,000
Sold for HK$2,520,000
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27
This lot is no longer available.
28
Lee Ufan
From Line No. 790372
Estimate HK$9,000,000 - 14,000,000
Sold for HK$11,140,000
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29
Pierre Soulages
Peinture 102 x 130 cm, 11 mars 2016
Estimate HK$7,500,000 - 10,000,000
Sold for HK$8,115,000
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30
Ouattara Watts
Intercessor
Estimate HK$800,000 - 1,200,000
Sold for HK$1,134,000
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31
Sam Francis
Untitled
Estimate HK$1,500,000 - 2,500,000
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32
KAWS
UNTITLED
Estimate HK$3,500,000 - 4,500,000
Sold for HK$3,276,000
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33
Kohei Nawa
PixCell-Deer #21
Estimate HK$2,800,000 - 3,500,000
Sold for HK$3,780,000
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34
This lot is no longer available.
35
Anna Park
I to I
Estimate HK$300,000 - 500,000
Sold for HK$2,268,000
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36
Trey Abdella
Some Things Aren't Worth Waiting For
Estimate HK$600,000 - 900,000
Sold for HK$2,646,000
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37
Szabolcs Bozó
One Bird, A Cat and A Man
Estimate HK$400,000 - 600,000
Sold for HK$882,000
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38
Katherine Bernhardt
Laundry Day
Estimate HK$800,000 - 1,200,000
Sold for HK$2,142,000
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39
Issy Wood
Dog With Pendants (Not as Close)
Estimate HK$1,200,000 - 1,800,000
Sold for HK$1,386,000
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40
Robert Nava
Shark Wing Pegasus
Estimate HK$1,200,000 - 1,800,000
Sold for HK$3,780,000
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41
Ayako Rokkaku
Untitled
Estimate HK$2,000,000 - 3,000,000
Sold for HK$8,115,000
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42
Allison Zuckerman
Bullseye
Estimate HK$550,000 - 750,000
Sold for HK$1,071,000
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43
Serge Attukwei Clottey
Valentine's Day
Estimate HK$250,000 - 450,000
Sold for HK$693,000
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44
Genieve Figgis
Pink Ballroom
Estimate HK$1,500,000 - 2,000,000
Sold for HK$2,016,000
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45
Emmanuel Taku
Brothers in Red
Estimate HK$300,000 - 500,000
Sold for HK$1,512,000
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46
Aboudia
Take Me II
Estimate HK$500,000 - 700,000
Sold for HK$2,520,000
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47
José Parlá
Writers' Bench: Grand Concourse & 149th Street, The Bronx
Estimate HK$800,000 - 1,200,000
Sold for HK$1,764,000
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48
Edgar Plans
Night Creatures
Estimate HK$1,200,000 - 1,800,000
Sold for HK$3,024,000
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49
Rafa Macarrón
Sin título (Cosmos)
Estimate HK$700,000 - 1,000,000
Sold for HK$1,386,000
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