Rock and Scroll: Ancient Chinese scroll by Su Shi smashes auction record

A crucial chunk of classical Chinese history resurfaced during Christie’s Hong Kong’s recent Beyond Compare: A Thousand Years of the Literati Aesthetic auction, when an ancient Chinese scroll – Wood and Rock by Su Shi, an 11th century Chinese statesman and poet – came up for sale. It eventually went for more than HK$463 million (US$59 million), making it the most expensive object ever sold by Christie’s in Asia.

For those still stunned by the price tag, a little background information may make it a little more digestible. Su Shi – a writer, poet, painter, calligrapher and statesman – was, arguably, the single most important political and literary figure of the Song Dynasty (960-1279 AD), a man who undoubtedly hugely enriched Chinese culture with his paintings, poems, essays and travelogues.

The scroll in question is said to be one of the great artist’s more mature works and depicts withered trees, grotesque rock formations and stormy seas all across an expansive of 27.2cm x 543cm canvas. Crucially testifying to its provenance, there is also an accompanying calligraphy courtesy of Mi Fu, a renowned painter and calligrapher himself, and a contemporary of Su Shi.

SPARK brings together the science and art of creativity

A unique project spawned by the collaboration between arts and science, SPARK: The Science and Art of Creativity, is Hong Kong’s first-ever festival that celebrates creativity across the arts and sciences, organised by the British Council. The programme which ran from 18 to 20 January at Tai Kwun, saw HKSAR Chief Executive Carrie Lam unveil Neon Spark, a unique artwork sponsored by Phillips auction house, conceived and designed by British Chinese artist Faye Wei Wei and then fabricated in neon by one of Hong Kong’s last neon light masters.

With more than 30 events over three days and over 50 creative and education partners from the UK and Hong Kong, SPARK encouraged visitors to immerse in a holistic experience, one at the juncture of art, creativity, science and education. Check out Gafencu’s coverage of this special experience’s opening ceremony in the video below.

Absolut Creative Competition to be hosted in Hong Kong for the first time

Since its inception in 1985, the Absolut Creative Competition – sponsored by renowned vodka label Absolut – has been a platform dedicated to fostering a spirit of artistic competitiveness, engaging some of the world’s boldest and most talented up-and-coming artists in an endeavour to find just the right interpretation of its iconic logo. Now, for the first time ever, the event will be taking place right here in Hong Kong.

To participate, entrants can start by downloading the template of the Absolut bottle silhouette from the free competition’s website. From there, they are encouraged to get artistic and create a new logo that shares the company’s vision of a better tomorrow, through any of its five central brand beliefs. What does the lucky winner get, you ask? Well, first there’s the chance to win a €20,000 (HK$205,742) cash prize. Better yet, their creation will featured in an international Absolut campaign, offering them global visibility and prestige.

With our sights set on learning more about the competition and Hong Kong’s own bustling creative scene, we sat down with two of this year’s Absolut Creative Competition local judges – Alan Lo, Co-founder and Executive Director of Classified Group, and Founder of G.O.D. (Goods of Desire) Douglas Young, to get some insight into what the judges are looking for, and some advice to today’s young Hong Kong artists.

absolut creative competition — *Absolut Creative Competition* judges Alan Lo (left) and Douglas Young

As a leading voice in the Hong Kong art scene what are you doing specifically to give back to the community and its budding creatives?
Alan Lo: I’m in a very lucky position in that I can allocate time outside of work towards my philanthropic pursuits, namely co-founding Design Trust and Para Site. At Design Trust, we look to activate long-term, intelligent and meaningful platforms that fund and advocate for the positive values of design. Para Site, meanwhile is a space that allows businesses with a corporate social responsibility (CSR) programme to get involved in the local art scene.
Douglas Young: At G.O.D, we are always trying to find new talent and work with them. We fully support their work and give them exposure, even if we can’t pay them handsomely. Because the Absolut campaign is so iconic and is being held in Hong Kong for the first time, it’s a great opportunity to give back.

Absolut has declared that they believe brands should act in a sustainable and transparent way. What does sustainability and transparency mean to you?
Alan Lo: It’s about long term thought, and making a commitment. You don’t have all the answers, but on a basic level, it’s about a well-considered and transparent effort.
Douglas Young: On a philosophical level, we need to produce things that are meaningful. I really believe in the Renaissance of Chinese culture and traditions, and look to create things that last more than just a season. It’s more important to create products that are of value. To me that’s what sustainability is about.

Do you have any advice to isolated or marginalized youth, particularly those who wish to pursue art as a career?
Alan Lo: Go for it. Some of the best works in the world come from a place of emotion built from experiences where you have something to say. Connect and follow those in Hong Kong that foster growth. Explore grants, and keep going. Hard work leads to results, so persevere, persevere, persevere.

Art is often political. How do you approach diversity and inclusivity without alienating any particular sub-group of people?
Douglas Young: I think as a creative person it’s very important to have the courage to speak out, and know that it’s an obligation as an artist to deal with sensitive issues and things that require change. It’s our task to move society on. Conflict is inevitable, but if we keep dialogues open, we can resolve misunderstandings.

Thank you.

To learn more about Absolut’s Creative Competition you can visit their website here.
The last day to submit entries is 31 January, 2019 with the local winner announcement to take place in March and the global winner to be announced in May.

Interview by: Bailey Atkinson

Good Germs: New study shows bacteria may be the answer for art restoration

Contrary to the popular saying, “time heals all”, there are certain objects that are instead ravaged by time, for instance the beautiful ancient paintings that provide us a glimpse of the glorious yesteryears, of times Medieval and Renaissance, of kings and battles, and transports us to a bygone era for a little while.

However, many natural factors over the ages adversely affect the astounding relics of the world of yore, including sunlight, heat, humidity, and most unsurprisingly, bacteria. It’s no wonder then that it’s a constant battle against the elements that collectors and buyers are fighting as they try to keep their artifacts safe and intact. However, recent studies suggest that bacteria may be the answer for art restoration needs.

art restoration — Baroque master Carlo Bononi–the “Incoronazione della Vergine” (The Coronation of the Virgin) (Image: PLOS)

According to a new paper published in PLOS One, Italian researchers have found that several strains of bacteria – primarily Staphylococcus and Bacillus colonise different parts of the artwork based on the colours on the painting, probably because they consume the ingredients that make up those particular colour pigments. They also found out that while most microbes destroy the artwork, there are some others that could possibly be used to help in preservation. By adding spores of other strains of Bacillus subtilis, pumilus and megaterium, the malignant microbes and fungi are able to be destroyed.

The restoration proved successful with 17th-century oil canvas painting “Incoronazione ella Vergine” (The Coronation of the Virgin), which had suffered damage due to an earthquake back in 2012.

So, what does this mean for private art collectors? Well, it’s early to say if this bacterial solution can be made available commercially any time soon, as the study has only been released just last month. But if your patience is able to fight off bio-degradation, we’re sure your paintings can wait a bit longer too.

Text: Bailey Atkinson

Art Talk with Zhou Chunya: An intimate chat with the pre-eminent Chinese artist

The worlds of luxury yachting and high-end art collided in fantastic fashion recently when yacht builder Sanlorenzo Asia – represented by Simpson Marine – and Amanda Wei, founder of the eponymous Amanda Wei Gallery, co-hosted a very special event: Art Talk with Zhou Chunya. The occasion celebrated the renowned Chinese artist’s solo exhibition at the Amanda Wei Gallery, which will be on display until 15 February 2019.

*Peach Blossom Series, 2006. Oil on canvas，120x150cm*

Zhou Chunya, one of China’s preeminent contemporary artists, is famed for his ability to capture the beauty of everyday life in a vivid first-person narrative. Known for his powerfully colourful and imaginatively expressive artworks – most notably the Green Dog and Red Man series – his masterpieces have sold for millions of dollars.

*Red Bridge in Slender West Lake, 2018. Acrylic, mineral colour on paper, 45x64cm*

Open to select VIPs only, Art Talk with Zhou Chunya opened with an introductory speech by Amanda Wei before the artist took centre stage for a frank discussion on a variety of topics including the intimate details of his upbringing, the influence of the Cultural Revolution on his creative psyche and the sources of inspiration for his own art. Zhou also introduced the audience to the colourful nuances of his new Peach Blossom series.

This unique collaboration between the 60-year-old Sanlorenzo brand and Wei, who is also a Sanlorenzo yacht owner, is the latest episode of the ship builder’s 10-year foray into the world of high art. Over the past decade, not only has it introduced the concept of creating custom-built spaces to showcase owners’ personal art collections aboard its yachts, it has even partnered with prestigious art fairs around the world – Venice Biennale and Art Basel, to name but two – to set up unique Collector’s Lounges, each dedicated to the works of one special artist.

In an exciting move for Hong Kong art aficionados, Sanlorenzo Asia announced at Art Talk with Zhou Chunya that it would be partnering with 2019 Art Basel Hong Kong for another special Collector’s Lounge, this time to spotlight an Asian artist in partnership with Amanda Wei Gallery. The city’s premier art fair, which runs 29-31 March, will also see Sanlorenzo top management, including chairman Massimo Perotti, in attendance.

Unfinished sketch by David Hockney fetches US$90.3 million

Even David Hockney, that most celebrated of British Pop Art painters, couldn’t have envisaged so fanciful a notion as a canvas he left incomplete some 47 years ago one day commanding a record sum at auction, while being universally hailed as a modern-day masterpiece. Inconceivable or not, fact has outpaced fancy, with Portrait of an Artist (Pool with Two Figures), the unfinished fine art-ery in question, fetching a truly monumental winning bid of US$90.3 million (HK$706 million) when it came up for auction at Christie’s New York.

Bidding for this half-finished Hockney opened at a more-than-respectable US$18 million, before rapidly soaring to US$90 million, a figure some US$72.3 million higher than its clearly conservative reserve. Pretty much in one bound, this established Hockney’s experimental piece as one of the high-water marks of post-World War II creativity, while catapulting the artist himself to the all-time pantheon of preeminent painting practitioners. One can only wonder how much it would have fetched had David Hockney ever actually deigned to complete his design.

Photos: Renaud Camus

Lots of History: The Best Moments of 2018 from Auction Houses Worldwide

It’s been a big year for auction houses world over. Despite the ever-changing economic climate, it seems that big-ticket jewels, fashions and artworks cannot fail to draw the attention, and the cash, of bidders. And so as the hammer falls on 2018, we look at some of the stand-out moments from our favourite auctioneers.

The Record-breaking Sale of The Pink Legacy Diamond

We’ve mentioned The Pink Legacy Diamond at Gafencu before but we love any excuse to have a look at it! The diamond sold at Christie’s in Geneva and set the record for highest price paid per carat for a pink diamond. You can read more about The Pink Legacy here.

Jenny Saville and David Hockney become the World’s Most Expensive Living Artists

Christie’s New York made headlines when Hockney’s Portrait of an Artist (pool with two figures) sold for US$90.3 million to an unknown buyer making the British painter a record holder as no other art work has ever been sold for more during the artist’s lifetime.

Meanwhile at Sotheby’s in London, Jenny Saville became the world’s most expensive female artist after her groundbreaking self-portrait Propped was sold for £9.5 million, Making it the most expensive work by a living female artist.

The Sale of the First Artwork Authored by AI

It wasn’t just human artists breaking records in 2018. This year Christie’s became the first to auction an AI-generated artwork. Although the move was considered rather controversial, Portrait of Edmond Belamy sold for $432,500, almost 45 times more than it’s original estimate.

Sotheby’s held their first watch auction in Dubai

You don’t get to be one of the oldest and most prolific auction houses around without keeping an eye on the future. With the market in Dubai continuously expanding, Sotheby’s hosted its first watch auction with grand sales of US$2.6 million.

China Guardian Made Their Highest Ever Sales

The second-largest auction house in Hong Kong reported HK$1.1 billion in annual sales, their highest-ever annual total. Highlights from their Autumn auctions included a collection of Jade Carvings which achieved rare “white glove” status and a 19.69-carat natural Colombian emerald and diamond ring which went for HK$ 20.62 million.

The Girl With A Balloon Became Love Is In The Bin

It would be highly remiss of us to publish a round-up of auction news without mentioning the infamous sale of Banksy’s Girl with a Balloon, now retitled Love is in the Bin. The world watched in a mixture of horror, humour and wonder as the hammer came down on the £1,042,000 sale and the painting promptly began to self-destruct. The buyer decided to keep the partially shredded artwork and the piece was duly renamed. Banksy later admitted that, despite many rehearsals, the prank had actually gone wrong. The painting was supposed to be completely shredded but the mechanism jammed part way through.

Text: Alice Duncan

UNICEF HK unveils charity art exhibition inspired by the next generation

At the end of October, charitable organisation UNICEF HK unveiled a special exhibition entitled The Illumination of Love and Philanthropy at ifc mall in Central. The two-week event was targeted at highlighting the importance and value of giving unconditional love to the children of the world.

For the special occasion, two renowned contemporary Chinese artists – Ren Zhen Yu and Zou Cao – created a series of distinctive portrait paintings that paid tribute to the contributions and philanthropy of such noted celebrity figures as Mother Teresa, actress Audrey Hepburn, Singapore ex-Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew and the legendary Bruce Lee.

Artist Ren Zhen Yu with his portrait of Bruce Lee at the UNICEF HK art exhibition — *Artist Zou Cao with his portrait of Bruce Lee at the recent UNICEF HK art exhibition*

In keeping with the charitable drive of the exhibition, the public were invited to participate in the Pay It Forward campaign onsite and contribute donations towards various UNICEF HK programmes worldwide. In return, they received an electronic postcard featuring one of the displayed artworks as a keep-sake of the event.

Taking the spirit of generosity one step further, Art Futures Group, the region’s dedicated Chinese contemporary art specialist and creative partner of UNICEF HK for The Illumination of Love and Philanthropy, further donated HK$5 per postcard created.

Artist Zou Cao with his portrait of Elizabeth Taylor at the UNICEF HK art exhibition — *Artist Ren Zhen Yu with his portrait of Elizabeth Taylor at the recent UNICEF HK art exhibition*

Jeremy Kasler, CEO of Art Futures Group ,said of the exhibition: “AFG is honored to be part of this meaningful project. Through the distinctive style of two well-known Chinese contemporary artists, Ren Zhen Yu and Zou Cao, art acts as the bridge to transform the wisdom of our ancestors and uplift the excellence of our next generation, our children through art.”

Juin-Octobre 1985 by Zao Wou-ki broke all records at recent auction

Zao Wou-ki (1921-2013) has long been regarded as one of China’s pre-eminent modern artists whose massive masterpieces are only dwarfed by the huge prices they command (read more here).

Now, one particular item from the grandmaster’s oeuvre – Juin-Octobre 1985 – created quite a buzz when it came up for auction at Sotheby’s Modern Art Evening Sale, with its eventual price estimated to be around US$44 million. It ultimately went on to set new auction records by getting sold for US$65 million.

Constructed as a three-panelled triptych – a format greatly favoured by Zao – the central canvas measures a whopping 280cm x 400cm, and is flanked by two further 280cm x 300cm panels. Commissioned by the renowned architect IM Pei – a lifelong friend of Zao’s – it hung in Singapore’s Raffles City complex until 2005, when it was auctioned by Christie’s, with the winning bid said to be in the region of HK$18 million.

Putting the artist’s work into perspective, Vinci Chang, Sotheby’s Head of Modern Asian Art, said: “Zao’s paintings are held in the same regard as those of Western masters. As a consequence, we are deeply honoured to be able to present Juin-Octobre 1985, the largest painting in the artist’s oeuvre and without a doubt, a singular masterpiece and one of unparalleled importance.”

With the value of his paintings set to soar even higher as the posthumous reputation of Zao Wou-Ki continues to build, his works seem to offer that rarest combination – aesthetic delight and escalating investment value.

Text: Tenzing Thondup