HONG KONG.- On 25 & 26 November, Christie's will hold three sales of Asian 20th Century & Contemporary Art, offering a group of important works by modern and contemporary masters. The sales will present a comprehensive narrative charting the evolution of key artistic movements and iconic artists such as Zao Wou-ki, Wu Guanzhong, Yoshitomo Nara and Yayoi Kusama as they matured through their careers.

Headlining the series of sales are masterpieces by Zao Wou-ki and Wu Guanzhong – two of the most well-respected Asian 20th Century masters, marking one of the most valuable groupings ever to be offered in a single auction season. Also on offer are works by Asian artists from a similar period whose influence from the west is enshrined in their artistic creations, including Foujita, Pan Yuliang, Sanyu and Le Pho.

A stellar line-up of Japanese Post-War and Contemporary works by Yayoi Kusama, Takashi Murakami, Atsuko Tanaka and Yoshitomo Nara is another highlight of the upcoming sales. The season‟s line-up is completed with works by masters from Southeast Asia such as Ahmad Sadali and Jose Joya.

Eric Chang, Deputy Chairman Asia, Asian 20th Century and Contemporary Art, commented “The curation this season not only offers works of the utmost quality, but also a unique and sophisticated perspective into the evolution of Asian modern and contemporary art. The diverse group of works cater to both seasoned and new collectors. We hope to broaden collectors‟ interests and understanding of Asian modern and contemporary art, as one of the most fascinating periods in art history, and to offer masterpiece works to satisfy the most discerning tastes”.

Works by Zao Wou-ki
Through his career, Zao Wou-ki created a wealth of masterpieces that blend Chinese and Western influences in an alluring and enigmatic way, making him an undisputed icon among Asian 20th Century artists. Born in Beijing in 1920, Zao produced a range of emotionally intense abstract oil paintings reflecting the impact of Western modern art on his artistic development, while drawing on his Chinese ink-painting roots. The sale features Zao‟s works of great importance, providing a rare opportunity for collectors to appreciate the his early to mature creative phases. Leading the sale this season is the large format work 29.01.64 , recorded in extensive academic publications with a rich exhibition history.

Auction Highlight: ZAO WOU-KI (29.01.64)
An epitome of the Chinese modern art movement, 29.01.64 was created at a time when Zao started to shift his style from being meticulously focused on detail to a much more liberating form of artistic expression. This work demonstrates how he combined western expressionist techniques with innovative art movements of the time, pioneering his distinctive and unparalleled approach.

Further Highlights

• ZAO WOU-KI (ZHAO WUJI, FRANCE/CHINA, 1920-2013) Ville Flottante (Floating City) oil on canvas 46 x 55 cm. (18 1/8 x 21 5/8 in.) Painted in 1954 HK$7,000,000-9,000,000

• ZAO WOU-KI (ZHAO WUJI, FRANCE/CHINA, 1920-2013) 8.11.79 oil on canvas 90 x 116.7 cm. (35 1/2 x 46 in.) Painted in 1979 HK$12,000,000-18,000,000

• ZAO WOU-KI (ZHAO WUJI, FRANCE/CHINA, 1920-2013) Bocage oil on canvas 53 x 80 cm. (20 7/8 x 31 1/2 in.) Painted in 1957 HK$15,000,000-18,000,000

• ZAO WOU-KI (ZHAO WUJI, FRANCE/CHINA, 1920-2013) Untitled (Teapot and Vase with Twigs) oil on canvas 54 x 65 cm. (21 1/4 x 25 5/8 in.) Painted in 1951 HK$10,000,000-15,000,000

KOREAN ABSTRACT ART
Highlights Include:

• PARK SEO-BO (KOREA, B. 1931) Ecriture No. 11-78 pencil and oil on hemp cloth 181.6 x 227 cm. (711/2 x 89 in.) Painted in 1978 HK$7,000,000-12,000,000

• PARK SEO-BO (KOREA, B. 1931) Ecriture No. 212-85 pencil and oil on hemp cloth 60.3 x 72.5 cm. (233/4 x 281/2 in.) Painted in 1985 HK$1,000,000-2,000,000

• CHUNG SANG-HWA (KOREA, B. 1932) Untitled 85-8-9 acrylic on canvas 130 x 97 cm. (51 x 381/4 in.) Executed in 1985 HK$2,000,000-3,000,000

• YUN HYONG-KEUN (KOREA, 1928-2007) Burnt Umber & Ultramarine Blue oil on linen 162 x 130 cm. (633/4 x 51 in.) Painted in 1992 HK$1,000,000-1,500,000

POST-WAR & CONTEMPORARY JAPANESE ART
An important period in the development of Japanese art, the Post-War and Contemporary period saw the rise of internationally acclaimed artists including Yayoi Kusama, Takashi Murakami, Atsuko Tanaka and Yoshitomo Nara. These artists developed a unique artistic language to explore the evolution of society and humanity brought upon by the socio-political shifts of Japan and its relation to the world in the post-war era.

As one of the most highly regarded Asian contemporary artists, a series of some of the large format paintings by Yayoi Kusama will be offered this season. Created in the 1960s, the works display the artist‟s obsessive dedication towards the depiction of black and red dots, which although was not uncommon among other artists of the era, only Kusama was able to inject life and emotion into this otherwise mechanical process.

A large group of Nara works will also be presented across a wide spectrum of mediums- from colour pencil on paper, acrylic, oil on canvas to sculptures, providing a unique glimpse into the diverse body of work from this universally loved artist.

Joining this line-up are contemporary artists such as Kohei Nawa ,Tetsuya Ishida and Natsuyuki Nakanishi. Nawa‟s iconic PixCell sculpture series has continued to rise in popularity in recent years, often appearing at auction, while Nawa‟s mixed media sculptures echo Ishida‟s eerie surrealist paintings, which reflects the rebuilding of a national identity after the Second World War and the artists‟ daring endeavour to make disruptive progress.

Highlights Include:

• YOSHITOMO NARA (JAPAN, B. 1959) Midnight Vampire acrylic on canvas in original frame image size: 73 x 60.5 cm. (28 x 23 7/8 in.) framed size: 94 x 82 cm. (37 x 32 1/4 in.) Executed in 2010 HK$7,000,000-10,000,000

• YOSHITOMO NARA (JAPAN, B. 1959) MIA acrylic on cotton mounted on FRP 180 x 180 x 26 cm. (70 7/8 x 70 7/8 x10 1/4 in.) Executed in 2001 HK$12,000,000-16,000,000

• YAYOI KUSAMA (JAPAN, B. 1929) UNTITLED oil on canvas 102 x 142.2 cm. (40 ⅛ x 56 in.) Painted circa 1960 HK$22,000,000-32,000,000

• ATSUKO TANAKA (JAPAN, 1932-2005) ‘84A vinyl paint on canvas 218.5 x 291.5 cm. (86 x 114 3/4 in.) Executed in 1984 HK$10,000,000-12,000,000

• KOHEI NAWA (JAPAN, B. 1975) PixCell Deer No.9 mixed media sculpture 108 x 72.5 x 47 cm. (42 1/2 x 28 1/2 x 18 1/2 in.) Executed in 2008

• TAKASHI MURAKAMI (JAPAN, B. 1962) Superflat, first love, flower acrylic on canvas mounted on panel 180 x 180 x 5.5 cm. (70 3/4 x 70 3/4 x 2 1/8 in.) Painted in 2009 HK$7,000,000-9,000,000

• YOSHITOMO NARA (JAPAN, B. 1959) Otafuku No. 2 (Moon-Faced Woman No. 2) ceramic decorated with platinum liquid (original wooden base) sculpture: 118 x 125 x 127 cm. (46 1/2 x 49 1/4 x 50 in.) base: 20 x 140 x 140 cm. (7 7/8 x 55 1/8 x 55 1/8 in.) Executed in 2010 HK$4,000,000 - 5,000,000

• YOSHITOMO NARA (JAPAN, B.1959) Our Thai House Mini mixed media (house installed with an acrylic on wooden panel, an acrylic on cotton mounted on canvas and 2 acrylic on canvas) sculpture: 88 x 54 x 62.5 cm. (34 5/8 x 21 1/4 x24 5/8 in.) Executed in 2007 HK$4,000,000-6,000,000

• YAYOI KUSAMA (JAPAN, B. 1929) Beginning Of Life acrylic on canvas 194.5 x 130.5 cm. (76 5/8 x 51 3/8 in.) Painted in 1988 HK$8,000,000 - 12,000,000

• NATSUYUKI NAKANISHI (JAPAN, 1935- 2016) LℓR - 87 – I oil on canvas 194 x 142 cm. (76 3/8 x 55 7/8 in.) Painted in 1987 HK$700,000-900,000

ASIAN ARTISTS ABROAD
A key highlight of this season‟s offering is the juxtaposition of artists from various Asian countries who have lived abroad and produced iconic artworks during the 20th Century. Drawing on their Asian roots, artists including Sanyu, Leonard Tsuguhara Foujita, Pan Yuliang and Le Pho incorporated Western influences into their delicate brushstrokes, creating a sense of cultural awareness and uniqueness that cannot be found elsewhere.

Leading Highlight: SANYU (Bouquet de Marguerites)
Characteristic of a work from the artist‟s earlier period of the 1930s, this composition uses generous amounts of pink, mixing simple colours to create an almost monotone effect. This simplicity creates an air of elegance that is unsurpassed by others. One tends to feel that Sanyu‟s flower vases are almost „alive‟, reminiscent of a beautiful woman perched by an open window. The masterful use of fine lines is very effective in leading the observer into a dialogue of emotions and stirring passionate feelings - an exceptional quality of Sanyu‟s works rarely seen in other artists. Bouquet de Marguerites can be considered one of the most representative works of Sanyu‟s pink period.