Create your first list.
Select an existing list or create a new list to share and manage lots you follow.
DAW Chinese Contemporary Art Collection: A Collector’s Story
DAW was exposed to and fascinated by western contemporary art through attending Art Basel and working in New York in the late 1980s and early 1990s. He was collecting western Pop art, a reflection of the rising industrialisation and economic power in the 1960s and 1970s.
When visiting Shanghai and wider China for the first time in 1997, DAW quickly felt the shift from communism to capitalism and was introduced to Lorenz Helbing, a Swiss and owner of ShanghART Gallery. DAW was intrigued by the quantum shift in economic growth, infrastructural mega projects, and the fast social adoption by the Chinese people. This shift was reflected in the Chinese Contemporary Art driven by creative and free-spirited artists. DAW was immediately attracted by the strength and power of this art.
With the support of Lorenz, DAW visited most of the represented artists in their studios and started to collect works from many of China’s most significant artists, including Zeng Fanzhi, Zhang Enli, Wang Guangyi, among many others….. Recently, PHILLIPS spoke with DAW about how he entered the art world and the evolution of his collecting journey.
Portrait of DAW by Xue Song, 2003 PHILLIPS: How did your path to collecting Chinese Contemporary Art begin? Do you recall what the first piece was you acquired?
DAW: I took my time to visit many galleries and artist studios, before buying my first Chinese Contemporary Art pieces, since I wanted to deeply understand the market (I guess a very Swiss approach). Finally, I bought my first pieces from Xue Song, Geng Jianyi, Ding Yi and Zeng Fanzhi at once through ShanghART in 2002.
PHILLIPS: Looking back over your collecting journey, how have your tastes evolved?
DAW: When the Chinese Contemporary Art market started to take off through the first pieces appearing at auctions in 2006-2007 (for example, Zeng Fanzhi shot in the world auction ranking from position 4,968 in 2004 to 28 in 2007), a new and younger generation of artists emerged with different views and topics reflecting the quantum shift and the fast-changing world. I started to visit these younger artists and collecting their artworks.
PHILLIPS: You are truly an engaged collector in that many of your works have been purchased directly from the artists’ studios. Is it important for you to meet artists in person?
DAW: I am a very curious person and like to meet interesting people. Therefore, it was natural for me to meet the source of inspiration and understanding more about the creators.
PHILLIPS: What is the focus regarding the artists in your collection? Do you feel there are themes that unites the works you have acquired? What inspires you in this category of art?
DAW: To simplify it, I guess that my collection is all about faces, scapes (land and city) and objects. It all goes back to the people, their country, and creations.
PHILLIPS: What advice would you give to a collector who is just starting out? What criteria should one set for oneself when collecting?
DAW: First of all, it is important to collect what you like (unless you see art as alternative investment asset). Second, I never saw myself as a collector, as I was passionate about living with the art pieces. Third, if you are buying into new art (like I did at that time) and it does not cost too much money (all relative of course), do not worry too much. If the price tag is heavier, carefully look at the artist works portfolio and evolution, understand the role of the gallery representing the artist and check out potential auction results.
PHILLIPS: Apart from art, are there any other interesting categories that you’ve collected in? Does this relate to your art collecting habits or philosophy in any way?
DAW: I was into Asian antiques, vintage cars, watches, and furniture and of course into books, music, films and wines. It was all about surrounding myself and enjoying the most beautiful things of what life has to offer.
PHILLIPS: From your point of view, what are the key trends shaping the future of art collecting and collection management? Which part of the technological advances today excites you the most?
DAW: Collecting art (like many other categories) has become a lot easier and transparent with the birth of the internet. With the birth of blockchain technology in 2009, art collecting and collection management will move more digital. This does not mean that physical and traditional art media will disappear, but it will be more and more digitally depicted. Blockchain and NFTs are a game changer for traditional and digital art. The last two years of the Covid19 pandemic have perpetuated this shift.
Catalogue Note
Widely lauded for his distinctive collages combining charred remnants of classical Chinese works with totemic Western pop culture references, Xue Song toys with the tension between occident and orient, high and low art, East and West, effectively blurring categorial imperatives.
In a strange twist of fate, a studio fire consumed all of Song’s existing collages in 1991. Consequently, he began to incorporate remaining ashes with images compiled from his rich sources:“Every year, I cut images from maybe a thousand books and from piles of old newspapers and photographs searching for the right images. Maybe it could be an image of Chairman Mao or Shanghai beauties, women playing mah-jong, scenes from the Cultural Revolution, or it could be of contemporary events.” — Xue Song
Coca cola is a vivid example of Song’s technique: Chinese traditional paintings featuring emblematic motifs of soaring mountains and pine trees, overlaid with excerpts of poetry, all of which forming the charred, ashy outline of a Coca cola bottle, set against an expressive, textured background. Song plays on the semiotics of the instantly recognisable signifier that has come to be synonymous with American culture, a nod to Warhol’s Coke bottle prints from the 1960s.
Andy Warhol,Two Coke Bottles, 1962
Sold by Phillips New York for US$1,580,000, 16 May 2019
Artwork: © 2023 The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts, Inc. / Licensed by Artists Rights Society (ARS), New YorkIn the present lot, the bottle’s outline acts almost as a mould, demanding the conformity of its contents. Song highlights the satirical juxtaposition of the rich emblems of centuries-long Eastern tradition and the icon of the contemporary West: a mass-manufactured sugar-laden 'bottle of pop'. He embraces the emptiness of contemporary culture by filling its hollow silhouette with a lineage of creative tradition. The present lot teeters brilliantly between modernity and tradition, mass and individual.
Provenance
ShanghART Gallery, Shanghai
Acquired from the above by the DAW Collection
DAW CHINESE CONTEMPORARY ART COLLECTION
Ж48
Lot offered with No Reserve
Coca Cola
signed 'Xue Song [in Chinese]' lower right; further signed, titled and dated '"Coca Cola" Xue Song [in Chinese and English] 2001' on the reverse
acrylic and printed collage on canvas
work 61.5 x 50.5 cm. (24 1/4 x 19 7/8 in.)
frame 65.2 x 54.2 cm. (25 5/8 x 21 3/8 in.)
Executed in 2001.
Estimate
HK$20,000 - 40,000 •
€2,400-4,800
$2,600-5,100
Sold for HK$40,640
Sophia Choi
Associate Specialist, Head of Online Sales
20th Century & Contemporary Art, Hong Kong
+852 2318 2093
sophiachoi@phillips.com
Satellite: Online Auction
7 - 14 September 2023
1
Glendon Cordell
Walking Through Shadows
Estimate HK$50,000 - 70,000
Sold for HK$120,650
Create your first list.
Select an existing list or create a new list to share and manage lots you follow.
2
Guy Yanai
In The Shadow of a Young Girl in Flower
Estimate HK$30,000 - 50,000
Sold for HK$76,200
Create your first list.
Select an existing list or create a new list to share and manage lots you follow.
3
Wendy Park
Heart Apples
Estimate HK$40,000 - 60,000
Sold for HK$101,600
Create your first list.
Select an existing list or create a new list to share and manage lots you follow.
4
Laure Mary-Couégnias
Forever and Forever #5
Estimate HK$40,000 - 60,000
Create your first list.
Select an existing list or create a new list to share and manage lots you follow.
5
Hilda Palafox
Momento II
Estimate HK$40,000 - 60,000
Sold for HK$44,450
Create your first list.
Select an existing list or create a new list to share and manage lots you follow.
6
Madeline Peckenpaugh
Vice Versa
Estimate HK$50,000 - 70,000
Sold for HK$76,200
Create your first list.
Select an existing list or create a new list to share and manage lots you follow.
7
Sophie von Hellermann
Birthday Party
Estimate HK$40,000 - 60,000
Sold for HK$127,000
Create your first list.
Select an existing list or create a new list to share and manage lots you follow.
8
Morgan Blair
WOW! This New Liquid Cheese Product By The Makers of Oxycontin Is The ONLY Proven Way To Fill Your Bottomless Pit of Existential Longing Because of Its Unique Chemical Composition Derived From Freon-Soluble Megaplastics Salvaged From a Staten Island Playground. Stay Present By Creating Some Adversity For Yourself AND Satisfying Those Late Night Cravings!
Estimate HK$40,000 - 60,000
Create your first list.
Select an existing list or create a new list to share and manage lots you follow.
9
Johanna Dumet
Die Haflinger
Estimate HK$40,000 - 60,000
Sold for HK$40,640
Create your first list.
Select an existing list or create a new list to share and manage lots you follow.
10
After René Magritte
Untitled, from 'Les Moyens d'Existence'
Estimate HK$20,000 - 40,000
Sold for HK$20,320
Create your first list.
Select an existing list or create a new list to share and manage lots you follow.
11
David Hockney
Still Life
Estimate HK$80,000 - 120,000
Sold for HK$101,600
Create your first list.
Select an existing list or create a new list to share and manage lots you follow.
12
Damien Hirst
Mercy (from The Virtues series, H9-3)
Estimate HK$80,000 - 120,000
Sold for HK$101,600
Create your first list.
Select an existing list or create a new list to share and manage lots you follow.
13
Haegue Yang
Over the Waves and Trails – Trustworthy #87 - #104
Estimate HK$300,000 - 500,000
Sold for HK$533,400
Create your first list.
Select an existing list or create a new list to share and manage lots you follow.
14
Park Seo-Bo
Ecriture No. 060224
Estimate HK$30,000 - 50,000
Sold for HK$19,050
Create your first list.
Select an existing list or create a new list to share and manage lots you follow.
15No Reserve
Park Seo-Bo
Ecriture No. 218-85
Estimate HK$15,000 - 20,000 •
Sold for HK$13,970
Create your first list.
Select an existing list or create a new list to share and manage lots you follow.
16
Yung-Nam Park
Landscape against Blue Sky
Estimate HK$100,000 - 150,000
Create your first list.
Select an existing list or create a new list to share and manage lots you follow.
17
Anish Kapoor
Echo (set of 5)
Estimate HK$35,000 - 55,000
Sold for HK$44,450
Create your first list.
Select an existing list or create a new list to share and manage lots you follow.
18
Zeng Fanzhi
Untitled
Estimate HK$220,000 - 320,000
Create your first list.
Select an existing list or create a new list to share and manage lots you follow.
19
Lulu Ngie
Warming Up for a Long Time
Estimate HK$80,000 - 100,000
Sold for HK$76,200
Create your first list.
Select an existing list or create a new list to share and manage lots you follow.
20
Chiharu Shiota
Closing Hole
Estimate HK$40,000 - 60,000
Sold for HK$53,340
Create your first list.
Select an existing list or create a new list to share and manage lots you follow.
21
Ewa Juszkiewicz
Untitled (after Jean-Antoine Watteau)
Estimate HK$45,000 - 65,000
Sold for HK$44,450
Create your first list.
Select an existing list or create a new list to share and manage lots you follow.
22
Yukimasa Ida
End of Today 11/2/2018 Mask
Estimate HK$150,000 - 250,000
Sold for HK$190,500
Create your first list.
Select an existing list or create a new list to share and manage lots you follow.
23
Tomoo Gokita
Untitled
Estimate HK$40,000 - 60,000
Sold for HK$50,800
Create your first list.
Select an existing list or create a new list to share and manage lots you follow.
24
Julian Opie
Secretary (from Stone Heads series)
Estimate HK$100,000 - 150,000
Sold for HK$76,200
Create your first list.
Select an existing list or create a new list to share and manage lots you follow.
25
Sam Francis
Untitled (L. 254)
Estimate HK$15,000 - 20,000
Sold for HK$19,050
Create your first list.
Select an existing list or create a new list to share and manage lots you follow.
26
Eddie Martinez
Untitled
Estimate HK$120,000 - 220,000
Sold for HK$165,100
Create your first list.
Select an existing list or create a new list to share and manage lots you follow.
27
Katherine Bernhardt
Untitled
Estimate HK$50,000 - 70,000
Sold for HK$63,500
Create your first list.
Select an existing list or create a new list to share and manage lots you follow.
28
Austin Lee
Meeting
Estimate HK$80,000 - 100,000
Sold for HK$101,600
Create your first list.
Select an existing list or create a new list to share and manage lots you follow.
29
Mike Lee
Day Dream
Estimate HK$80,000 - 120,000
Create your first list.
Select an existing list or create a new list to share and manage lots you follow.
30
Molly Greene
Untitled
Estimate HK$15,000 - 30,000
Sold for HK$16,510
Create your first list.
Select an existing list or create a new list to share and manage lots you follow.
31
Aboudia
Untitled
Estimate HK$300,000 - 500,000
Create your first list.
Select an existing list or create a new list to share and manage lots you follow.
32
David Olatoye
Untitled
Estimate HK$30,000 - 50,000
Create your first list.
Select an existing list or create a new list to share and manage lots you follow.
33
Ryan Mrozowski
Untitled (Pair)
Estimate HK$20,000 - 30,000
Sold for HK$25,400
Create your first list.
Select an existing list or create a new list to share and manage lots you follow.
34
Andrea Joyce Heimer
We Wanted to See a UFO
Estimate HK$30,000 - 50,000
Create your first list.
Select an existing list or create a new list to share and manage lots you follow.
35
Madelynn Green
Birth of a Star
Estimate HK$30,000 - 50,000
Create your first list.
Select an existing list or create a new list to share and manage lots you follow.
36
Louisa Gagliardi
Aphrodisiac
Estimate HK$50,000 - 70,000
Sold for HK$120,650
Create your first list.
Select an existing list or create a new list to share and manage lots you follow.
37
August Vilella
Bee
Estimate HK$40,000 - 60,000
Sold for HK$63,500
Create your first list.
Select an existing list or create a new list to share and manage lots you follow.
38
Matías Sánchez
Los Enamorados
Estimate HK$30,000 - 50,000
Create your first list.
Select an existing list or create a new list to share and manage lots you follow.
39
Edu Carrillo
Dr. Dog
Estimate HK$80,000 - 120,000
Create your first list.
Select an existing list or create a new list to share and manage lots you follow.
40
Edgar Plans
Tobo-gun
Estimate HK$60,000 - 90,000
Create your first list.
Select an existing list or create a new list to share and manage lots you follow.
41
Edgar Plans
Eat Your Peak!
Estimate HK$150,000 - 200,000
Sold for HK$152,400
Create your first list.
Select an existing list or create a new list to share and manage lots you follow.
42
Edgar Plans
City Park
Estimate HK$50,000 - 80,000
Create your first list.
Select an existing list or create a new list to share and manage lots you follow.
43No Reserve
Timur Si-Qin
Truth by Peace II
Estimate HK$20,000 - 40,000 •
Create your first list.
Select an existing list or create a new list to share and manage lots you follow.
44
Yue Minjun
Untitled (Smile-ism No. 18)
Estimate HK$15,000 - 20,000
Create your first list.
Select an existing list or create a new list to share and manage lots you follow.
45
Jia Aili
The Memory of North Liucao Island I
Estimate HK$60,000 - 90,000
Create your first list.
Select an existing list or create a new list to share and manage lots you follow.
46No Reserve
Liao Guohe
Save the House
Estimate HK$20,000 - 40,000 •
Sold for HK$25,400
Create your first list.
Select an existing list or create a new list to share and manage lots you follow.
47No Reserve
Xue Song
Coca Cola
Estimate HK$20,000 - 40,000 •
Sold for HK$40,640
Create your first list.
Select an existing list or create a new list to share and manage lots you follow.
48No Reserve
Xue Song
Coca Cola
Estimate HK$20,000 - 40,000 •
Sold for HK$40,640
Create your first list.
Select an existing list or create a new list to share and manage lots you follow.
49No Reserve
Wu Hao
Rolling Gate No.4
Estimate HK$20,000 - 40,000 •
Create your first list.
Select an existing list or create a new list to share and manage lots you follow.
50
Wang Yi
Site 2015 – 2
Estimate HK$40,000 - 60,000
Sold for HK$63,500
Create your first list.
Select an existing list or create a new list to share and manage lots you follow.
51
Stanley Shum
A Pocketful of Stars
Estimate HK$30,000 - 50,000
Create your first list.
Select an existing list or create a new list to share and manage lots you follow.
52
Noritoshi Mitsuuchi
Five Star II
Estimate HK$60,000 - 90,000
Sold for HK$88,900
Create your first list.
Select an existing list or create a new list to share and manage lots you follow.
53
Diren Lee
Can You See Us?
Estimate HK$70,000 - 100,000
Sold for HK$88,900
Create your first list.
Select an existing list or create a new list to share and manage lots you follow.
54
Okokume
Dreamy Cloud
Estimate HK$30,000 - 50,000
Create your first list.
Select an existing list or create a new list to share and manage lots you follow.
55
Katherine Bradford
Theatre, Spot light II
Estimate HK$20,000 - 30,000
Sold for HK$25,400
Create your first list.
Select an existing list or create a new list to share and manage lots you follow.
56
Rhiannon Salisbury
Harrod's Window
Estimate HK$15,000 - 30,000
Create your first list.
Select an existing list or create a new list to share and manage lots you follow.
57
Sarah Lee
Forest I
Estimate HK$26,000 - 45,000
Sold for HK$107,950
Create your first list.
Select an existing list or create a new list to share and manage lots you follow.
58No Reserve
Suanjaya Kencut
Give Me a Little Bit
Estimate HK$50,000 - 70,000 •
Sold for HK$50,800
Create your first list.
Select an existing list or create a new list to share and manage lots you follow.
59
Elang Sutajaya
Windsurfing
Estimate HK$30,000 - 50,000
Sold for HK$38,100
Create your first list.
Select an existing list or create a new list to share and manage lots you follow.
60
Adin Wiedyardini
Stay with Me
Estimate HK$20,000 - 30,000
Sold for HK$76,200
Create your first list.
Select an existing list or create a new list to share and manage lots you follow.
61
Brianna Rose Brooks
Blue Evening With Auntie
Estimate HK$20,000 - 30,000
Create your first list.
Select an existing list or create a new list to share and manage lots you follow.
62No Reserve
Julian Pace
Mr. Mort
Estimate HK$20,000 - 40,000 •
Sold for HK$10,160
Create your first list.
Select an existing list or create a new list to share and manage lots you follow.
63No Reserve
Sanya Kantarovsky
Proximity II
Estimate HK$10,000 - 15,000 •
Sold for HK$11,430
Create your first list.
Select an existing list or create a new list to share and manage lots you follow.
64
Timothy Curtis
Calligraphy Blue Faces No. 3
Estimate HK$30,000 - 50,000
Create your first list.
Select an existing list or create a new list to share and manage lots you follow.
65No Reserve
Jordy Kerwick
Untitled
Estimate HK$30,000 - 50,000 •
Sold for HK$33,020
Create your first list.
Select an existing list or create a new list to share and manage lots you follow.
66
Thierry Noir
12 Approaches To Understanding Heat
Estimate HK$30,000 - 50,000
Sold for HK$63,500
Create your first list.
Select an existing list or create a new list to share and manage lots you follow.
67
Mr Doodle
Untitled
Estimate HK$22,000 - 42,000
Create your first list.
Select an existing list or create a new list to share and manage lots you follow.
68
MADSAKI
Brillo Soap Pads Box II (i inspired by Andy Warhol)
Estimate HK$40,000 - 60,000
Create your first list.
Select an existing list or create a new list to share and manage lots you follow.
69
KAWS
Two works: (i) COMPANION – PINK; (ii) COMPANION – BROWN
Estimate HK$80,000 - 120,000
Sold for HK$76,200
Create your first list.
Select an existing list or create a new list to share and manage lots you follow.
70
Mr.
Six works: Louise -Cornflower, Marguerite, Redweed-; Ren -Tokyo-; Iminathi -Rose-; Elise -White Flower-; Somchai -A Phuket Dream-; Noah -Pink Breeze-
Estimate HK$60,000 - 80,000
Sold for HK$76,200
Create your first list.
Select an existing list or create a new list to share and manage lots you follow.