A MASTER S SECRETS UNVEILED

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1 Press Release Hong Kong For Immediate Release Hong Kong Winnie Tang Rhonda Yung rhonda.yung@sothebys.com London Matthew Weigman +44 (0) matthew.weigman@sothebys.com New York Lauren Gioia / Dan Abernethy lauren.gioia@sothebys.com / dan.abernethy@sothebys.com SOTHEBY S HONG KONG TO PRESENT THE MEI YUN TANG COLLECTION OF PAINTINGS BY CHANG DAI-CHIEN A MASTER S SECRETS UNVEILED ON 27 MAY 2013 AT SOTHEBY S HONG KONG GALLERY - Features 25 Important Paintings By Zhang Daqian (Chang Dai-chien) - - Highlights Works Especially Created For The Seminal Publication, Chinese Paintings With The Original Paintings & Discourses On Chinese Art By Professor Chang Dai-Chien - The Authoritative And The Single Most Systematic Exposition Of Zhang Daqian s Techniques And Theories - Hong Kong, 29 April 2013 Following the record-breaking sale of The Mei Yun Tang Collection of Paintings by Chang Dai-chien in May 2011^, Sotheby s is thrilled to have been entrusted once again by Mei Yun Tang to offer a further 25 works by Zhang Daqian (Chang Dai-chien) on 27 May 2013 at Sotheby s Hong Kong Gallery. Titled A Master s Secrets Unveiled, the sale is estimated in excess of HK$110 million / US$14 million*, and is centered on works especially created for the seminal publication - Chinese Paintings with the Original Paintings & Discourses on Chinese Art By Professor Chang Dai-chien published in The book is authoritative and is the single most systematic exposition of Zhang Daqian s techniques and theories, compiled and published by Mr. Kao Ling-mei, the founder of the Mei Yun Tang Collection. It explores Zhang s journey towards his exceptional artistic achievements and celebrates the unique relationship between the artist and Mr. Kao Ling-mei. Augmented by other important works chosen from the Collection to provide a panorama of the artist s career from the 1940s to the 1960s, the sale reveals the artist s range and mastery from exquisite examples of his fine-brush depictions of flowers, birds and classical landscapes to his later expressionistic splashed ink works.

2 Other than the 25 works sold at Sotheby s Hong Kong in May 2011, the remaining works from the Collection have not been shown in public since the last exhibition of the Collection at the Singapore Art Museum in Highlights of the sale will be exhibited in Beijing from 8 to 9 May and in phases at Sotheby s Hong Kong Gallery. The full auction preview will be held from 23 to 26 May in Hong Kong prior to the auction. (See p. 6 for details) Zhang Daqian has long been recognised as the Picasso of China. The two masters met in 1956 in France. (See Notes to Editors for more details.) Sotheby s Head of Chinese Paintings Department, Mr. C. K. Cheung, says, Sotheby s is extremely honoured to have been entrusted once again with works from the Mei Yun Tang Collection for the upcoming sale, to be titled A Master s Secrets Unveiled. Since our announcement of the auction in early April, we have seen strong interest from collectors across Asia and around the world, who recognize the significance and importance of the Mei Yun Tang collection, and are excited at the opportunity to compete once again for works of such exceptional provenance. The Mei Yun Tang Collection is one of the most preeminent and comprehensive private collections of Zhang Daqian paintings. Its unimpeachable provenance has been widely acknowledged by both the collecting and academic communities. The upcoming sale will highlight works featured in the seminal publication by the founder of the Mei Yun Tang Collection, Mr. Kao Ling-mei - Chinese Paintings with the Original Paintings & Discourses on Chinese Art By Professor Chang Dai-chien - which is a major exploration of Zhang s art, theories and techniques. As part of the exhibition, Sotheby s will present original materials created during the production of this book, including Zhang s sketches and drawings as well as notes marking his edits to the book a rare opportunity to see inside the production of this important volume. For much of this material, this exhibition will be the first time these historical documents have been seen by the public since the book was published in We are grateful for Mei Yun Tang s generosity in lending this material to the exhibition. Considered together with Zhang s works included in the sale, this exhibition will provide a window into this master s unique artistic insights and practice that will both educate and inspire collectors and scholars. About Chinese Paintings with the Original Paintings & Discourses on Chinese Art By Professor Chang Dai-chien The painter is the deity of his own world, invested with the prerogative to create whatever he pleases. In his paintings, he may play the part of the Creator and cause it to rain or the sun to shine, without being dictated to by any force in existence. - Zhang Daqian, Chinese Paintings with the Original Paintings and Discourses on Chinese Art 2

3 Zhang Daqian first met Kao Ling-mei, a professional photographer working in China, in the mid-1930s. The two immediately recognised a kindred spirit in each other, and became close friends for over 50 years. In collaboration with Zhang, Kao gathered examples of Zhang s artistic theories on different subject matters, painstakingly compiling them over three years into a book that provides a systematic exposition on the artist s exceptional techniques. Titled Chinese Paintings with the Original Paintings & Discourses on Chinese Art By Professor Chang Dai-chien, the book is the most authoritative publication on Zhang Daqian s painting theories that has ever been produced. With meticulous attention to design and printing, it is hailed by academics as the definitive testimony of Zhang s virtuosity and is essential to understanding Zhang s artistic achievement. Kao Ling-mei (left) and Zhang Daqian (right) AUCTION HIGHILGHTS Zhang Daqian s Self Portrait Executed in 1960 Ink and colour on paper, hanging scroll 70.5 x 47.5 cm Est: HK$2.5 4 million / US$320, ,000 This Self Portrait was executed in 1960 by Zhang Daqian at the age of 61. The artist gave the work as a gift to Kao Ling-mei, the founder of the Mei Yun Tang Collection. In the painting, the artist s upper body is shown, both his arms placed across his chest, a walking cane in one hand and his greyish-white beard in characteristic disarray. With his head held erect, his eyes open wide under a pair of bushy brows and mouth slightly ajar with a toothy smile, this work captures the artist s optimistic character. Zhang composed numerous self-portraits in his lifetime, but few from this perspective and with such an expression of cheerfulness. Brushworks are executed swiftly and smoothly to render the self-portraiture in realistic details, from the folds in the artist s robe to his unruly beard, facial contours and a playful spirit in the eyes. 3

4 Zhang Daqian s Daoist Goddess Playing Panpipe Executed in 1955 Ink and colour on paper, hanging scroll 116 x 65 cm Est: HK$15 18 million / US$ million Zhang Daqian might have drawn inspiration from folk legends in creating Daoist Goddess Playing Panpipe. Hair piled in a high bun, the goddess looks resplendent in a flowing costume, complete with a ceremonial headdress and strings of beads. Straddling a white phoenix, she holds a panpipe amid the clouds of heaven. Zhang applied fine delicate brushstrokes (Gongbi style), coupled with the use of heavily-textured mineral paints, to depict the goddess face, hair ornaments and costume accessories. Every technique employed, from the choice of colours to the application of brush techniques, is inspired by the art of ancient cave murals from Dunhuang, resurrecting the magnificence of the Tang dynasty. Zhang once spent three years in Dunhuang, where he assiduously studied the cave murals and practiced the painterly style they exemplify. This experience left indelible influences on the style of human figures portrayed in his later works. A classic example is this painting, in which the goddess image draws heavily from the portrayal of Bodhisattvas found in the cave art of Dunhuang. While Bodhisattvas seated in a crosslegged position are more commonly seen in ancient mural paintings, often with an empty backdrop, this work combines folklore imagery with the application of multi-layered colours to enliven the character depicted. Daoist Goddess Playing Panpipe was completed in the autumn of A year later, it was exhibited in Zhang s solo exhibition at Musée National d'art Moderne in Paris considered the artist s first major solo show in Europe - and a significant highlight in Zhang s exhibition tour around Europe. Zhang Daqian s Shimmering Lake and Mountain Colours Executed in 1949 Ink and colour on paper, hanging scroll 118 x 52.5 cm Est: HK$16 20 million / US$ million Shimmering Lake and Mountain Colours was executed in 1949 during Zhang s brief sojourn in Hong Kong and Macau, where he enjoyed a respite from the military unrest in mainland China. He visited friends and worked on painting projects during that period. Early that year, he called on a friend, Jian Jinglun, and it was at his home on Hong Kong Island where Zhang completed a number of excellent works, including this one, which expressed the artist s longing for the beautiful scenery of lakes and mountains of his homeland. 4

5 Dominated by shades of blue and green, this work was painted in Mogu ( boneless ) style, a technique found in many of Zhang s works from the late 1940s to early 1950s. Imbued with subtle beauty, the composition exudes an erudite elegance, with an emphasis on colour harmony. The juxtapositions of lush greens and red mineral stones provide an alluring contrast to the indigo-coloured boulders depicted. This multi-layering of colours calls to mind a similar style applied in Spring Mountains in Sichuan, another landscape work by Zhang Daqian executed in 1953 (sold at Sotheby s Hong Kong April Sale 2011 for HK$64.5 million / US$8.27 million). By comparison, the use of colours in Shimmering Lake and Mountain Colours is more subdued with less ornamental effects, and perhaps evokes the refreshing charm of the lakes and mountains. Its layout is equally meticulous, with details of scenery rendered in both close-ups and distant perspectives. The painting is richly detailed with tranquil, hidden paths; meandering bridges, emerald fauna and tiny boats on a lake, all set against a backdrop of mountains, forests and the horizon in the distance, inviting viewers into a haven of rest and peace. Zhang Daqian s An Invitation to Rusticate (pictured below) Executed in 1966 Splashed ink and colour on paper, framed 67 x 188 cm Estimate upon request Rustication, a theme originated from classical Chinese poems, refers to the mutual invitations of friends to retreat into a reclusive life, away from the hustle and bustle of civilization. Most Chinese painters of subsequent generations experimented with this motif in their works. Zhang Daqian was no different, but he brought a greater depth of meaning to the idea through his artistry. In the early 1950s, Zhang immigrated with his family to South America, inviting his friend Kao Ling-mei to follow. Kao s emigration application was approved, but he was unable to follow through with his plan, due to his personal circumstances at the time. Though separated by distance, the friends remained in close touch, given Zhang s frequent trips to visit Kao in Hong Kong. 5

6 Undertaken in 1966, An Invitation To Rusticate marks the painter s attempt to recreate on paper the scenic views from his Brazilian home. We can infer from its title that this work is also meant as an exhortation for his friend to join him in Brazil, ten years after the initial invitation. The painting was exhibited later that same year in a solo exhibition organised by Kao in Hong Kong City Hall after its completion in In early 1968, Kao visited Zhang in Brazil for a happy reunion. In this work, Zhang used a splashed-ink-and-colour technique to produce a spectacular vista of mountains and lakes. A space is intentionally left blank, where the unadorned portion of yellowing paper suggests the image of a lake surface in the viewer s imagination. Echoing a semi-abstract style, colours flow freely from the tip of Zhang s brush evoking a natural landscape. Dense layers of mineral paint in blue and green, ornamented with dashes of red pigments, are applied to evoke the multifaceted beauty of nature, and the composition comes alive in a seamless fusion of ink and paint. Invitation to Rusticate is comparable to Aachensee Lake, another work created by Zhang in the same month of the same year (sold in the Spring of 1992 at Sotheby s Hong Kong), in terms of dimension, composition, layout and technique. Together they represent the artist s best splashed-ink-and-colour paintings completed during that year. *Estimates do not include buyer s premium and prices achieved include the hammer price plus buyer s premium. Images are available upon request NOTES TO EDITORS I) Auction and Exhibition Details Auction in Hong Kong Date: 27 May 2013 Venue: Sotheby s Hong Kong Gallery, 5/F, One Pacific Place, 88 Queensway, Hong Kong Exhibition in Beijing Date: 8 to Time: 10am - 6pm Venue: Diplomat Hall, St. Regis Hotel, 21 Jian Guo Men Wai Da Jie, Beijing Exhibition in Hong Kong Venue: Sotheby s Hong Kong Gallery, 5/F, One Pacific Place, 88 Queensway, Hong Kong Selected Highlights (Part I) Date: 29 April 3 May 2013 Time: 10am - 6pm Selected Highlights (Part II) Date: May 2013 Time: 10am - 6pm Full Auction Preview Date: May 2013 Time: 10am - 7pm 6

7 II) About Zhang Daqian (Chang Dai-chien; ) One of the greatest Chinese artists of the 20 th century, Zhang Daqian was proficient in a broad range of artistic styles including paintings, calligraphy, seal carving and verse composition. Zhang received training in traditional Chinese painting from childhood, and his meticulous study and imitation of the style and technique of ancient Chinese painting masters brought him great success during his early career. In the 1960s, Zhang pioneered the splashed-ink-and-colour technique, which heralded the birth of an unprecedented artistic style. Fellow Chinese painter Xu Beihong, a hugely gifted artist who remains a revered figure in China to this day, once praised him as the most talented artist of the last 500 years in the traditional landscape genre. Zhang travelled extensively throughout his life. Following his departure from mainland China in 1949, he moved several times, living in Hong Kong, India, Argentina, Brazil and the United States before settling in Taiwan. His solo art exhibitions were variously held in Europe, the United States and Asia and he enjoyed a significant reputation around the world. Zhang has long been recognised as The Picasso of China, and there are compelling parallels between the two: both demonstrated outstanding capability to master and revitalise their respective artistic traditions; both sought inspirations in diverse cultures and eras and were astonishingly prolific, yet consistently produced works of the highest quality; most importantly, both still exert unrivalled influence decades after their death. In 1956, the t two grand masters finally met each other in France and the meeting has been regarded as one of the great encounters of modern art history. Today, Zhang Daqian s paintings are highly sought-after by art collectors worldwide. In The Global Art market An Overview of 2011 published by Artprice, Zhang Daqian, whose works fetched an annual auction revenue of US$550 million, surpassed Andy Warhol and Pablo Picasso to become the world s best-selling artist. III) The Mei Yun Tang Collection Of Paintings By Chang Dai-chien (Zhang Daqian) The Mei Yun Tang Collection Of Paintings By Chang Dai-chien, internationally recognised as one of the most preeminent and comprehensive private collections of Zhang Daqian s paintings, was assembled by the late Mr. Kao Ling-mei and his wife Jan Yun-bor starting in the 1940s. Mr. Kao published the prestigious Chinese Paintings with the Original Paintings & Discourses on Chinese Art By Professor Chang Dai-chien in It is considered to be the most authoritative and single most systematic exposition of the artist s techniques and theories. Mr. and Mrs. Kao Ling-mei befriended Zhang Daqian in the mid-1930s. One of the few professional photographers in China in the 1930s, Kao found a kindred spirit in Zhang, and the two harboured a genuine admiration for each other s artistic mastery. The Kaos were ardent supporters of Zhang and the Mei Yun Tang Collection includes many works acquired from the artist s solo exhibitions. As dear friends to the artist for over 50 years, the Kaos also received many of Zhang s prized works as gifts for Chinese New Year and birthdays as well as tokens of friendship and gratitude. The Mei Yun Tang Collection also comprises a number of Zhang s landscapes and artistic renderings of his extensive excursions with friends, as well as didactic works and painting manuals for the Kao s children. This extraordinary body of work reveals the close friendship between the celebrated artist and his dear friends for over 50 years. Works from the Mei Yun Tang Collection have been exhibited worldwide in the past decades, among them the inauguration of the Art Gallery of the Hong Kong City Hall in 1962; the Mei Yun Tang Collection of Chang Dai-chien Paintings Exhibition jointly organised by Mei Yun Tang and the Chinese University of Hong Kong in 1993; and in Tokyo s Shoto Museum of Art in Other than the 25 works sold at Sotheby s Hong Kong in May 2011, the remaining works from the Collection have never been shown in public since the last exhibition in Singapore Art Museum in

8 ^IV IV) ) Sotheby s Hong Kong Sale of The Mei Yun Tang T Collection of Paintings by Chang Dai-chien in May 2011 The legendary sale in May 2011 achieved an unparalleled total of HK$680 million / US$87.3 million in just over an hour, setting a record with the Highest Total For A Single-Owner Modern Chinese Paintings Sale. All the 25 masterpieces on offer were sold, and the top lot of the sale, Lotus and Mandarin Ducks, sold for HK$191 million / US$24.5 million (Est. HK$15 20 million/ US$ million), establishing the auction record for Zhang Daqian. Watch auction video on Youtube: V) For More News From Sotheby s Visit : Follow : & Join : Watch : Sotheby s has been uniting collectors with world-class works of art since Sotheby s became the first international auction house when it expanded from London to New York (1955), the first to conduct sales in Hong Kong (1973) and France (2001), and the first international fine art auction house in China (2012). Today, Sotheby s presents auctions in 8 different salesrooms, including New York, London, Hong Kong and Paris, and Sotheby s BIDnow program allows visitors to view all auctions live online and place bids from anywhere in the world. Sotheby s offers collectors the resources of Sotheby s Financial Services, the world s only full-service art financing company, as well as private sale opportunities in more than 70 categories, including S 2, the gallery arm of Sotheby's Contemporary Art department, and two retail businesses, Sotheby s Diamonds and Sotheby s Wine. Sotheby s has a global network of 90 offices in 40 countries and is the oldest company listed on the New York Stock Exchange (BID). 8