Press Release Hong Kong 30 March 2018 Media Enquiries Fay Pang fay@suttonpr.com +852 2528 0792 Jessica Chen jchen@polyauction.com.hk +852 2303 9892 Fatima Lam flam@polyauction.com.hk +852 2303 9891 Sabrina He she@polyauction.com.hk +852 2303 9881 Poly Auction Hong Kong 2018 Spring Auction First Day Sales Modern and Contemporary Art Auction achieved high results with Zao Wou-Ki s large-scale painting Et la terre était sans forme selling for over HK$ 100 million; the first Modern & Contemporary piece sold for this figure in Asia this year The sale set a new record within Zao s oracle-bone period Poly Auction Hong Kong 2018 Spring Auction has reported a successful first day of sales at the Modern and Contemporary Art Auction with a record-breaking total sale of over HK$400 million. Zao Wou-Ki s large-scale twometer painting Et la terre était sans forme set a market record. The artwork started at HK$ 65,000,000 and was sold at HK$182,900,000. This is the first auctioned Modern and Contemporary work of art that has been sold for over HK$ 100 million this year in Asia. The artwork was first showcased at Galerie de France Paris in 1957, and was quickly purchased by a private collector. The sale of the artwork in the auction this week set a new record within Zao s oraclebone period and is ranked as the second highest auction sales record for Zao s work. During the auction, a number of pieces were sold for over ten million, including another classic work by Zao, titled 7.8.65. The work demonstrates the artist s unique style, fusing east and west, and was sold at HK$ 33,040,000. Yun Gee s triptych Merry-Go-Round; Sun Bathers; & Modern Apartment achieved a great result and sold at HK$29,500,000. Painted in 1995, Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama s Infinity Stars sold for HK$30,680,000, and this piece is is Kusama s largest-scaled work created before the age of 70 that is currently in the market. Another highlight is the Precious Collection of Hsiung Ping-Ming s Widow Ms. Lu Bingan achived records that are double the estimated values. The contemporary auctions continue to perform steadily, with Zhou Chunya s Graff, Becker and TT and A Lying Woman, Black Stone selling for HK$10,856,000 and HK$9,440,000 respectively, while Cai Guo-qiang s Drawing for Dragon Sight Sees Bienna: Project for Extraterrestrials No.32 sold for HK$4,130,000. The results demonstrate the continuingly consistent market for young and established Chinese contemporary artists. 1
Zao Wou-Ki, Et la terre était sans forme 1956-1957 200.4 x 162.3cm. Sold price: HK$ 182,900,000 Zao Wou-Ki, 7.8.65 Painted in 1965 89 x 116 cm. Sold price: HK$ 33,040,000 Yayoi Kusama, Infinity Stars Painted in 1995 Acrylic on canvas 290 x 523 cm. Sold price: HK$ 30,680,000 2
Yun Gee, Merry-Go-Round; Sun Bathers; & Modern Apartment Painted in 1932 laid on cardboard (triptych) 49.5 x 35.9 cm; 52.5 x 45.3 cm; 49.9 x 35.7 cm. Sold price: HK$ 29,500,000 Wu Guanzhong, The Yellow River beyond the Horizon Painted in 1990 72.8 x 90.8 cm. Sold price: HK$ 17,700,000 Zhou Chunya, Graff, Becker and TT Painted in 2009 220 x 320 cm. Sold price: HK$ 10,856,000 Zhou Chunya, A Lying Woman, Black Stone Painted in 1992 149.2 x 119.2 cm. Sold price: HK$9,440,000 3
Cai Guo-qiang, Drawing for Dragon Sight Sees Bienna: Project for Extraterrestrials No.32 Executed in 1999 gunpowder and ink on paper (diptych) each: 303.5 x 400 cm. overall: 303.5 x 800 cm. Sold price: HK$4,130,000 Wu Guanzhong, Household of Birch Trees Painted in 1976 ink and colour on paper 48.8 x 45 cm. Sold price: HK$ 1,888,000 Hsiung Ping-ming, The Way Home (small) Executed in 2001 Bronze sculpture 50 x 9.5 x 42 cm. Sold price: HK$70,8000 4
To download hi-res images of the top selling lots, please click here: https://suttonpr.egnyte.com/fl/ffq7jwrjo1 Note to the Editor Auction Schedule Date Time Auctions 31 March 1 April 2 April 2:00pm 7:00pm 2:00pm 7:00pm 1:30pm Postpone Postpone 2:00pm 5:00pm 7:00pm Important Watches Important Wine and Whisky Magnificent Jewels Vintage Moutai Noble Legacy Important Chinese Art from the Meiyintang and Distinguished Private Collection Imperial Delights An Exquisite Private Collection of Chinese Cloisonné Enamels Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art Noble Handbags and Accessories Fine Chinese Paintings and Calligraphy [I] Fine Chinese Paintings and Calligraphy [II] Venue: Grand Hyatt (Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, 1 Harbour Rd, Wan Chai) * * Previews of Modern and Contemporary Art, Jewels and Prestige Collections, and Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art will start on 27 March; the preview of Chinese Paintings will start on 31 March. All previews will end on the day before the sale. About Poly Auction Hong Kong Poly Auction (Hong Kong) Limited (Poly Auction Hong Kong), established in 2012 by Poly Culture Group Corp. Ltd., is a young but remarkable auction house in Hong Kong and the Asia Pacific region. Beijing Poly International Auction, a subsidiary of Poly Culture Group Corp Ltd., is China s largest state-owned auction house and holds the highest auction transaction volume of Chinese art in the world. Poly Auction Hong Kong has repeatedly achieved record auction results over the past two years. In 2016, the Spring and Autumn Auctions achieved a total transaction sum of HK$2.4 billion and the 2017 Spring and Autumn Auctions reached a record-breaking HK$3.053 billion. Poly Auction (Hong Kong) comprises of four departments: Modern and Contemporary Art, Chinese Paintings and Calligraphy, Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art, and Jewels and Prestige Collections. We select only genuine, exquisite and rare artwork. We are entering the international art market with the aim to provide professional consultation, exceptional collections and the highest quality service. Poly Auction has a 5
global network of offices, including Hong Kong, Beijing, Shanghai, Macao, Xiamen, Shandong, Taipei, Tokyo, New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Sydney and Melbourne. Official Website: http://www.polyauction.com.hk WeChat account: polyauction hongkong Facebook: Poly Auction Hong Kong Instagram: polyauctionhk 6