PHILLIPS PRESENTS HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE MODERN & CONTEMPORARY ART & DESIGN SALE IN HONG KONG ON 12 DECEMBER
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HONG KONG – 3 December 2025 – Phillips is delighted to unveil highlights from its upcoming Modern & Contemporary Art & Design Sale in Hong Kong, taking place on 12 December at the company’s Asia headquarters in the West Kowloon Cultural District. The auction will showcase works by some of the most sought-after names of the 20th and 21st centuries. Among the highlights are iconic pieces by leading Japanese contemporary artists, including Yayoi Kusama, Hajime Sorayama, Izumi Kato, Chiharu Shiota, Kohei Nawa, and Ayako Rokkaku—reflecting the strong market demand for Japanese contemporary art. The sale also features an exciting selection of works by South Asian artists such as Ram Kumar and Sohan Qadri, offering collectors fresh opportunities to explore the richness of Asian art.
A special highlight in the sale is the Collection of Kwong’s Comics – Masterpiece of Sheung-Koon Siu Bo, Bruce Lee, Comic Manuscripts, comprising rare original manuscripts of Bruce Lee comics by Sheung-Koon Siu Bo, one of the longest-running comic series in Hong Kong’s history. Appearing at auction for the very first time, this collection marks a significant chapter in the city’s comic heritage and serves as a testament to the evolution of local culture. These works accompanied Hong Kong’s growth, inspired generations of comic creators, and became enduring symbols of modern culture.
A centerpiece of the Modern section is a group of works from the collection of Sin-May Roy Zao, daughter of Zao Wou-Ki. These pieces reveal some of the most experimental and innovative aspects of his oeuvre. The sale coincides with M+’s exhibition Zao Wou-Ki: Master Printmaker, which will open on 13 December. Following her successful collaborations with Phillips Hong Kong in 2022 and 2024, Sin-May once again brings remarkable works to the city of her birth—a place of profound personal significance for both her and her father.
Also on offer is a selection of exceptional examples of 20th Century and Contemporary Design works, such as Ole Wanscher and Mogens Koch. Prior to the auction, a preview exhibition will be open to the public at Phillips’ Asia headquarters in Hong Kong’s West Kowloon Cultural District from 5-12 December. In tandem with the live auction, Phillips is presenting Modern & Contemporary Art: Online Auction, Hong Kong, open for bidding from 1-11 December.
Kimberley Wong, Head of Sale, Modern & Contemporary Art, Phillips Hong Kong, said: “We are delighted to present such a diverse selection in this season’s Modern & Contemporary Art & Design Sale. From iconic works by leading Japanese contemporary artists to rare manuscripts by Hong Kong comics master Sheung-Koon Siu Bo, this auction reflects the dynamic and evolving tastes of collectors across Asia. We have observed a growing interest in South Asian art within the region, and we are pleased to offer works from this genre in our Hong Kong sale. Additionally, we are honored to feature the historic Bruce Lee comic manuscripts, appearing at auction for the first time, underscoring Phillips’ commitment to presenting culturally significant works that resonate with both seasoned collectors and new audiences.”
Leading the auction is Hajime Sorayama’s Untitled_Sexy Robot type II floating. A pioneer of contemporary art, Sorayama has spent nearly five decades perfecting his iconic “Sexy Robot” series—a bold concept that once challenged social taboos and authority. His futuristic female forms have captured global attention, inspiring high-profile fashion collaborations. Sorayama’s work is currently featured in a major retrospective in China (2025–2026), with his largest retrospective set to open in Tokyo in 2026.
Christopher Wool, one of today’s most influential contemporary painters, rose to prominence in the late 1980s with works that deconstruct and redefine the language of painting. His 1989 piece Untitled exemplifies this approach, featuring a floral motif repeated to the point of abstraction, transforming decorative imagery into a rigorous, conceptual pattern. Drawing on techniques inspired by industrial rollers and stencils, Wool deliberately rejects the expressive brushstroke, creating works that challenge notions of authorship and meaning.
Best known for her text-based public art projects, Jenny Holzer’s Survival: When there is no safe place…—featured in this sale—comes from her iconic Survival series, reflecting the artist’s conceptual rigor and enduring influence. The work offered is Artist’s Proof No. 1, with another edition held in the collection of The Metropolitan Museum of Art, underscoring its significance and value.
Ram Kumar, a pioneering post-independence Indian artist, discovered painting during his master’s studies and later trained under artist Fernand Léger in Paris. A visit to Varanasi in 1960 profoundly shaped his shift from portraits to landscapes, which became central to his practice. Over time, his philosophical inquiries led to increasingly abstract compositions. The present work, Untitled, 2004, exemplifies this mature style with simplified forms, expressive strokes, and evocative colors—possibly inspired by memories of rural India or his muse, Varanas.