Sotheby’s Hong Kong Modern & Contemporary Art

EVENT DESCRIPTION

Sotheby’s Hong Kong is gearing up to stage its first modern and contemporary art auctions in its recently opened premises at Landmark Chater. 

Taking centre stage at Sotheby’s Maison are era-defining artworks from the East and West, including Mark Rothko’s strikingly vibrant, two-metre-tall canvas, Untitled (Yellow and Blue), which was painted during the pinnacle of his career. Carrying an estimate of HK$225-275m / US$28.9-35m, this is one of the most valuable Western contemporary artworks ever to be offered in Asia, and its appearance marks the first time a work by Rothko has been offered in the region. Complementing the Rothko is a rare large-scale work by Zao Wou-Ki, 02.01.65, from his celebrated Hurricane period, which demonstrates the profound influence of American Abstract Expressionism on the artist’s practice.

Responding to the strong performance of works by titans of Japanese art, this season’s sales feature an iconic Hat painting by Yayoi Kusama alongside artworks by Yoshitomo Nara, Takashi Murakami, Kohei Nawa, and Izumi Kato.

Almost 50% of this season’s evening sale offerings have never been offered on the market before, while two thirds of the works will go on public exhibition for the first time. Maria Kreyn, Eva Helene Pade and William Brickel will also make their auction debuts.