Hong Kong – November 21, 2017 – Bonhams Modern & Contemporary sale in Hong Kong this November triumphed with a piece by Chinese modern artist Zao Wou-Ki (1921-2013). Under an intense bidding war, Dordogne (1954) sold for HK$11,380,000 (estimate at HK$4,000,000 - 6,000,000) to a Southeast Asian collector by phone – a record for the artist at Bonhams.

The painting is from an important period in Zao's career when he broke through his previous limitations to present an entirely new language for abstraction, incorporating Chinese calligraphy, signs, ancient bronze and oracle bone inscriptions as inspiration for his brushwork.

The 39-lot auction totaled HK$19,616,250 with a high sale through rate by value (85%) and by lot (80%). Led by Ralph Taylor by Bonhams Global Head of Post-War & Contemporary Art who explained, "Interest and bidding poured in, and the sale was lively and often fierce throughout, with action from California to Japan, in the room, on the phones, and on-line."

An early piece by Chinese contemporary artist, Zeng Fanzhi (b.1964), Smiling Bei Ke Ning (1989), went under the hammer for HK$4,300,000 (estimate at HK$3,500,000 - 5,500,000). The piece features a casual and relaxed figure (a classmate of the artist's, nicknamed Bei Ke Ning), rendered in emotive, expressionistic strokes, revealing Zeng's longstanding interest in psychological expression.

The cover lot, Inside and Out of Lattice (1990), a rare piece by Mono-Ha artist Kishio Suga (b.1944), fetched HK$450,000 (estimate at HK$300,000 - 500,000). In this piece the artist explores the dynamic relationship between everyday materials and the negative space around them.

There was strong interest in an early work by Hsiao Chin (b.1935), Untitled (1956), which sold for five times the estimate at HK$500,000 (estimate at HK$80,000 - 100,000). This piece is a rare example of an oil painting from his early Chinese Opera series.

Ingrid Dudek, Director of Contemporary Art, Asia said, "Each season we aim to present rare and exceptional works from leading artists across Asia, and we were delighted to see that the response to our sale was truly international.  Our Key Hiraga section continues to be a highlight of the auction. We were especially gratified to see pieces by Mono-Ha artists, Kishio Suga and Susumu Koshimizu, both go to important private collections, as well as to see local favorites like Luis Chan sell for multiples of their estimates. We look forward to continuing to shine an international spotlight on the fine and historic works from Asia."

The next auctions for Modern & Contemporary Art will take place on March 8, 2018 in London and June 5, 2018 in Hong Kong.

Enquiries:

For further information and images call Louise Oram on +852 6892 1171, or email louiseorampr@gmail.com or press@bonhams.com.