Auction PR Publicity Announcements News and Information
Auction PR Publicity Announcements News and Information

Sotheby’s Hong Kong announces Southeast Asian Paintings Spring Sale 2012 on 2 April

Sotheby’s Hong Kong announces that its Southeast Asian Paintings Spring Sale 2012 will take place on 2 April at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre.

Walter Spies, Banyan with Two Young Balinese, 1927. Est: HK$6.5 –11.5 million / US$840,000 – 1.49 million. Photo: Sotheby’s

The sale brings together a substantial selection of modern paintings of impeccable provenance, as well as inspiring Contemporary creations by both established and emerging artists from the region. Also noteworthy is a line-up of innovative photography and new media works that demonstrates the multi-disciplinary talent and vision of young Southeast Asian artists of this generation. Offering around 170 exceptional works, the sale is expected to fetch in excess of HK$45 million / US$5.8 million*.

MOK Kim Chuan, Sotheby’s Head of Southeast Asian Paintings, said, “2011 has been a truly remarkable year for Sotheby’s Southeast Asian Art sale, which achieved a record annual total of HK$190 million / US$24.4 million, an almost 30% growth over 2010. This solid growth is characterised by a continued expansion of collector base as we see increasing buying interests from new markets including the Greater China region with Taiwan in particular.

In response to the surging global interest in superb quality Southeast Asian paintings, we are proud to present a number of extremely rare modern masterpieces with impeccable provenance this season. Of particular note are Romualdo Locatelli’s Portrait of Fu Ku Ko and Juan Luna’s In the Theatre box – both are rare and superb examples of European Academic style that influenced early 20th century modern Southeast Asian painting, as well as arguably Walter Spies’ first oil painting in Bali – Banyan with Two Young Balinese. In addition, this sale also features innovative three-dimensional works, photography and new media art that, along with the other bold Contemporary offerings, are sure to satisfy collectors’ more sophisticated and diversifying tastes.”

*Estimates do not include buyer’s premium