HONG KONG.- The Poly Auction Hong Kong Limited 2016 Spring Auctions will take place from 2 to 5 April in Grand Hyatt Hong Kong, with preview from 2 to 5 April and auctions from 3 to 5 April. Poly Auction will present more than 1,600 exquisite artistic gems worth an estimated auction value upwards of HK$700 million. The Spring Auctions will be an artistic feast for collectors and art aficionados.
Mr Alex Chang, Managing Director of Poly Auction Hong Kong, said, ‘In the four years since Poly Auction, a pioneer among Chinese auction houses to expand into the international market, was founded, we gain the support of more collectors by each series of seasonal auctions. The 2015 Autumn Actions were concluded with a total sales of HK$914 million / US$118 million. Riding on the brilliant results from last year, Poly Auction Hong Kong is confident that the 2016 Spring Auctions will again gain the trust and support of collectors. The various departments are in earnest preparation of unique themes that will present rare items of diversified artistic styles from an international perspective. Attendees will be treated a brand-new visual feast.’
Introduction to 2016 Spring Auctions’ Key Highlights
Chinese and Asian Modern and Contemporary Art
Poly Auction’s Chinese and Asian Modern & Contemporary Art Department will present the brilliant works of artistic greats. The Zhou Village by Wu Guanzhong makes history as the biggest oil painting on canvas to be auctioned. The work represents the pinnacle of the painter’s creative career. He used oil paint, which is from the west, to present scenic views that embody the Chinese sentiment, realising his dream of internalising oil painting for his nation. His 1981 work The Juma River in Shidu Town is, on the other hand, a critical piece of his colour ink works. The beauty of a fine horse galloping in the autumnal winds in northern Hebei demonstrates the coupling of natural scenic views and humanism. Colour Rhymes No. 54 by Wu Dayu, The Lillies by Zao Wou-Ki and the important works of different periods by Chu Teh-Chun, all of which bear witness to the artists’ creative journey and critical progress, demonstrate the fusion of Chinese and Western aesthetics, as well as the artists’ thoughts in figurative and abstract paintings.
Through figurative subjects, contemporary art such as Untitled by Zeng Fanzhi, seeks a dialogue in the spiritual content of the image and realism. Yu Youhan’s Circle 86-5B marks the beginning of abstract painting of contemporary art in China. Though the theme ‘circle’, the work is an attempt in the discussion of the Chinese traditional philosophical thoughts. This work, together with the themed auction on the works of the Gutai painters, which is a representation of radical artistic development in Japan, as well as the themed auction on the works of Yayoi Kusama, show the international perspective of Asian art.
Chinese Paintings
In terms of classical Chinese paintings and calligraphy, Poly Auction’s Paintings and Calligraphy Department will continue its policy of ‘quality over quantity’ to enhance the quality of the auction lots. The works of various masters, from ancient to modern, will show the artistic achievements of the masters in their various stages. Since Ming and Qing paintings have a long history, we will launch the works of Zheng Banqiao, Wang Yuanqi, Wang Duo and many other famous artists for collectors.
Fine Modern Chinese Paintings and Calligraphy
In the field of Modern Chinese painting and calligraphy, there are many famous artists of different schools, who, with a profound humanist background and solid mastery of the brush, they were able to combine tradition and innovation, and fostered a flourishing field. In this connection, their works have always been the first choice of collectors. This time round, Poly Auction will proudly present the wonderful works of the great artists in the twentieth century, including a series of private collections from abroad which have been properly sourced and belong to a variety of styles. The works testify the artistic accomplishment and achievement of the modern painting and calligraphy masters.
Inkprovise - Modern & Contemporary Ink Art
The Chinese Contemporary Ink Paintings Department will launch an auction under theme ‘The contemporariness of Ink Paintings’ in this year’s Spring Auctions. Through a selection of exquisite items, the auction will seek a profound interpretation of the exploration, extension and transformation of the pioneering Asian artists of the early 20th century to the contemporary artists. The famous masters include Inoue Yuichi, Xu Lei, Hao Liang, Lin Fengmian, Huang Yongyu, Liu Kuo-sung, Xu Bing, Ai Xuan, Wei Ligang, Tan Jun, Wei Qingji, etc.
Convergences - A Selection of Chen Wen Hsi Paintings
As the frontrunner of Singapore’s first generation of pioneering artists, Chen Wen Hsi is proficient in both Oriental and Western schools. He is a master of both traditional Chinese paintings and Western painting, as shown by his unique combination of Chinese and Western styles which breaks tradition and creates the famous Nanyang style, which has won widespread reputation on the international art scene. Many of his works, which feature vivid and lively animal themes drawn meticulously, are well known, and his works on auction this time feature all kinds of animals and birds as the subjects. To observe the animals’ every move, Chen Wen Hsi kept different types of animals as pets. He also absorbs the styles of artists of different schools. There is no wonder that animals come alive in his works.
Glossiness of Uncarved Jade - Special Auction of Cui Ruzhuo [VI]
As one of of the most important artists in contemporary China, Cui Zhuo is known for his vigorous brushwork. He is able to illustrate the poetic qualities of oriental landscape in such a way that it presents the merriment of the lifestyle. He also pursues in his works the fusion of poetry and the artistic essence of the painting, thereby creating a unique beauty of the space. In Poly Auction’s 2014 auctions, his masterpiece on scroll Landscape in Snow and Landscape Series fetched respectively HK$184 million and HK$130 million, breaking the auction record worldwide for the artist, but also inspiring confidence in the global Chinese art market.
The 2016 Poly Spring Auctions will continue to show Glossiness of Uncarved Jade – Special Auction of Cui Ruzhuo (VI), and will, as a rare special opportunity, present his seminal masterpiece The Grand Snowing Mountains , which is a huge six-screen composition spanning two hundred and thirty square feet. The work features a mountain stretch uniformly blanketed in a massive quilt of snow, whose consistency showcases a dadao in aesthetics, particularly the pristine state of the nature. This work truly reflects the naturalness of the time-honoured saying ‘the nature is indifferent to the human condition’, which enables the simple and candid mountains stand the test of time, and can still be understood in modern times. Through the visual language of ink, this work is able to present the oriental philosophy.
Chinese Ceramics & Works of Art
In 2016, Poly Auction’s Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art Department will organise two special sales in addition to the original ‘Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art’ sale. It will launch a sale on Buddhist art called ‘The Endless Manifestations of the Buddha’s Spirit: Collection of Treasures of Buddhist Art’. In the ‘Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art’ sale, a series of well-documented and important bronzeware from the Yan and Zhou dynasties will be shown. Furthermore, the porcelain ware from the Ming and Qing dynasties are also of a respectable quality. In short, each important period has its representative works.
‘The Endless Manifestations of the Buddha’s Spirit: Collection of Treasures of Buddhist Art’ sale is the fourth Buddhist art-themed auction organised by Poly Auction Hong Kong. The Buddhist art lots come from a wide range of sources and represent a variety of styles. These lots date back from the fourth century to the nineteenth century, and are brilliant works from important areas and periods from the plains of central China to the Tibetan regions. They are not to be missed.
Jewels and Prestige Collections
The Jewels and Watches Department will present an extraordinary 3.80 carat fancy vivid blue diamond and pink diamond ring, a pair of 5.60 and 6.01 carat Burmese “pigeon’s blood” ruby and diamond ear pendants, a magnificent suite of Colombian emerald and diamond jewellery as well as a suite of diamond, emerald and ruby jewellery, by Massoni, amongst other dazzling jewellery worthy for their heritage value, exquisite watches, colourful high-end handbags and mellow wines.
