798 District Blog

‘Alternative Humanities’ is a large-scale exhibition devoted to Jan Fabre and Katsura Funakoshi – two of today’s most influential artists.

Born in Belgium, Fabre remains attuned to the religious paintings of 15th and 16th century Flanders, while exposing the contradictions of human existence through pictures drawn with his own blood and sculptures employing stuffed animals, animal bones, and other organic materials.

The figurative sculptures that Funakoshi carves from camphor wood speak eloquently of the interior landscape of people in our times. They also resonate with the complex emotions visible in images of the Kannon Bodhisattva of the late Edo/early Meiji period – a major turning point in Japanese culture.

Gathering some 190 works in a meeting of East and West, past and present, the exhibition will transcend time and place to inquire into state of the human spirit today.

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HONG KONG.- The Christie’s Hong Kong completed its Day and Evening Sales of Asian Contemporary Art and Chinese 20th Century Art on May 30th, 2010. Together with the ground-breaking 100% sell-through Evening Sale that totalled HK$303 million/US$39 million, the combined total of the Day and Evening Sales recorded a total of HK$523.4 million / US$67.2 million, an increase of 85% from Spring 2009 that nearly doubled our nearest international competitor.

Eric Chang, Christie’s International Director of Asia Contemporary Art and Chinese 20th Century Art, commented, “The momentum of the 100% sell-through Evening Sale the night before carried us into the highly successful Day Sales that began in the early afternoon and lasted late into the night. Together with the Evening Sale total of HK$303 million/US$39 million, the combined total of HK$523.4 million / US$67.2 million marks a 85% over our Spring 2009 results and doubling that of our nearest international competitor.

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Well-off Hangzhou is famous for traditional Chinese art, and many people have sniffed at contemporary works. A recent art fair tries to change attitudes and build a market. Xu Wenwen reports.

Hangzhou strongly supports the arts and cultural industry, and not just traditional Chinese arts. Many exhibitions today feature art of all kinds from China and abroad.

But contemporary art is an acquired taste in the city that is known as a showplace of ancient tradition.

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Christie’s Hong Kong completed its Evening Sale of Asian Contemporary Art and Chinese 20th Century Art on May 29th, 2010 with a remarkable 100% sell-through rate. With a sale total of HK$303 million/US$39 million that is three times over the estimate, this is the first white glove auction for any Evening Sale in Asia.

The top lot was ‘String Quartet’ by Chinese 20th Century artist Chen Yifei, a work which broke a new auction record at HK$61.1 million/US$7.85 million. Another two records were achieved when ‘Chapter Three “Wreck”‘ by Japanese artist Tomoko Konoike sold for HK$2.06 million/US$264,504, and a work entitled ‘Shintenno (Jikokuten, Zochoten, Tamonten, Komokuten)’ by Japanese artist Akira Yamaguchi sold for HK$1.94 million/US$239,096.

Eric Chang, International Director of Asia Contemporary Art and Chinese 20th Century, said, “Today’s Evening Sale of Asian Contemporary and Chinese 20th Century Art achieved HK$303.4 million/US$39 million, three times the estimate and a 67% increase from our Spring Evening Sale last year. In a completely packed auction room, the fierce bidding in an electrifying atmosphere not only created artist records but also resulted in an impressive white glove auction. This is a testament to Christie’s leadership and vision in developing the Asian Contemporary and Chinese 20th Century category since thirteen years ago.”

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