IHT
London's greatest Chinese art exhibition since 1935
ROBERT CUMMING, London International Herald Tribune
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2005

Eight is a number with special significance in Asian art, philosophy and
religion. As Alistair Gibson, head of Chinese Art at Sotheby's,
explains: "Eight is lucky in China because the pronunciation in Chinese
- 'ha' - is similar to the Chinese character for prosperity. In
Buddhism, eight is associated with the 'Eight Precious Things,' and in
Confucianism there are 'Eight Rules of Right' for conduct, including
loyalty, fidelity, decorum and integrity. There are also 'Eight
Trigrams,' which are symbols of divination."

Thus this is an auspicious year, for 2005 marks the eighth edition of
Asian Art in London, taking place Nov. 3-12. This 10-day series of
seminars, auctions and exhibitions will bring together London's leading
art dealers, auction houses and major institutions.

The last day of the event will coincide with the opening at the Royal
Academy of a magnificent exhibition, "China: The Three Emperors,
1662-1795," which is devoted to the artistic and cultural riches of
Imperial China. Spanning the reigns of three emperors, Kangxi
(1662-1722), Yongzheng (1723-35) and Qianlong (1735-95), it will feature
over 370 treasures, including precious robes and palace furnishings,
paintings and painted scrolls, weapons and ceremonial armor, jades and
bronzes, porcelain, carvings and lacquerware, and an imperial throne.

Says Colin Sheaf, deputy chairman of Bonham's: "It will be the most
important exhibition of Chinese art in London since the great historic
exhibition of 1935, which generated a huge level of excitement and
introduced a new generation of collectors to the splendors and
opportunities of Chinese art."

The scope and range of activities that Asian Art in London covers is,
however, much wider than Imperial China. The Victoria and Albert Museum
has already opened its exhibition "Cast and Chased: Japanese Bronzes of
the Meiji Period," and there will be plenty of opportunities to see fine
examples of Tibetan and Indian art, for example.

Contemporary artists

A new development this year is the inclusion of exhibitions of
contemporary Asian art. Marlborough Fine Art, a leading contemporary
gallery, has a memorial exhibition devoted to Chen Yifei (1946-2005),
China's foremost modern painter in the figurative tradition. In Katie
Jones's exhibition, entitled "Earth, Fire & Water," there is a wonderful
contemporary bronze box by Koji Hatakeyama.

Another milestone is the opening of the new Asia House premises at 63
New Cavendish Street. Asia House is one of the premier pan-Asian
organizations in Britain promoting a greater understanding of the rich
and varied Asian cultures and economies. Its new quarters include a
splendid new gallery whose inaugural exhibition will present the work of
the renowned Magnum photographer Steve McCurry, called "The Face of Asia."

Meanwhile, Christie's, Sotheby's and Bonhams will be holding 10 auction
sales during Asian Art in London. While the market has been particularly
buoyant in Ming and Qing ceramics and works of art, Mark Hinton of
Christie's detects an increase in activity in the Japanese market, which
is now more supported by Western buyers.

Two extraordinary pieces are worth noting. On Nov. 7, Bonhams will be
selling an Imperial Chinese 18th-century white jade bowl, made for use
at the court of the Emperor Qianlong. It has not been seen in public for
70 years, having last been displayed at the great Royal Academy
Exhibition in 1935.

On Nov. 9, Christie's is offering the Beckford Casket, an important
17th- century export lacquer casket notable for its elaborate
Western-style construction and the high quality of its lacquer
decoration. Thought to have been made in the period 1630-40, it once
belonged to the notorious rake William Beckford of Fonthill Abbey. It is
being sold by Trustees of the Deny Eyre Bower Bequest.

The greatest benefit of Asian Art in London, perhaps, is the wealth of
opportunities for exploration and cross-fertilization, allowing
established collectors to seek out new areas of interest and the novice
to have contact with an unparalleled accumulation of expertise. This
event provides the opportunity to learn about several thousand years of
Asian art, covering the whole of that gifted continent, within the space
of a few square miles.

http://www.iht.com/articles/2005/11/17/news/sp-asi-01.php

************************************

Oil paintings wooed at West Lake art fair
www.chinaview.cn 2005-11-23 00:50:29

HANGZHOU, Nov. 22 (Xinhuanet) - An oil painting piece by Chinese
painter Wang Yancheng sold for 1.98 million yuan (about 0.24 million US
dollars) at an auction here Sunday, beating the other traditional
paintings by modern Chinese maestros, which were also put up for auction.

Wang's other work was auctioned for 1.32 million yuan (0.16 million
dollars) at the 8th West Lake Art Fair, according to Wang Ji, head of
the organizing committee of the art fair.

Born in 1960, Chen is a native of east China's Guangdong Province.
He's the only Chinese whose works have been put up for exhibition at
both the French FIAC International Arts Fair and theParis International
Arts Fair.

His paintings are widely collected at home and aboard.

Several traditional Chinese paintings by renowned artists,
including Qi Baishi, Zhang Daqian and Huang Binhong were also put up for
auction. A painting by Fu Baoshi got the highest price of 1.10 million
yuan (0.13 million dollars).

"Oil paintings have become the darling of the times, because their
value is easily recognized internationally and embody more value in
terms of labor time," said Chen Rong, board chairman of the Hangzhou
Huaqi Culture & Art Co., the agency for Wang's works.

The total sale of Chinese oil paintings sold within mainland China
had reached a record high of over 197 million yuan (24 million dollars)
by the first day of sale at the Beijing-based China Guardian 2005 Autumn
Auctions early November. Oil pieces exhibited at the 8th West Lake Art
Fair had also become popular targets for ordering and purchases.

In the past two years, mainland collectors have replaced overseas
investors to become the mainstream for oil painting collections. In east
China's affluent Zhejiang province, 4 billionyuan have been invested in
the collection of antiques, paintings and calligraphies.

About 500 million yuan was spent for oil paintings.

"Though Chinese investment in oil painting is surging, oil art
collection on the Chinese mainland is still in its fledgling stage,"
Wang said. Compared to oil paintings abroad and traditional Chinese
paintings, the prices of domestic oil paintings are still pretty low.

Traditional Chinese paintings are usually priced at tens of
thousands of yuan per square Chi (about 1,109 square centimeters),while
a moderate oil piece is sold between 3,000 to 5,000 yuan, according to Wang.

"Chinese investment in oil painting, however, bears comparatively
lower risk and higher profits at present," Wang said.

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2005-11/23/content_3820146.htm

******************************

FAZ, 26. November 2005
Asiatika
Unglaubliche Zuschläge: China macht Paris glücklich und reich
Von Angelika Heinick

[image] Vase der Ming-Dynastie, 4,36 Millionen Euro (Tajan)
26. November 2005 Die chinesischen Sammler, die in den letzten Jahren
immense Vermögen aufgebaut und sich zum Ziel gesetzt haben, die
Kostbarkeiten ihres Kulturerbes in ihr Land zurückzuholen, machen
derzeit auch das Glück des Pariser Markts für ostasiatische Kunst.
Frankreich verfügt zudem über ein einschlägiges reichhaltiges, zu
Kolonialzeiten gewachsenes Reservoir hochkarätiger Objekte.

So verwunderte es nicht, daß bei Tajan in erster Linie die Chinesen um
das Prunklos der Auktion fochten, eine blauweiße Porzellanvase der
Ming-Dynastie - eins jener höchst seltenen Exemplare der Yongle-Periode
(1403 bis 1435) in „tianqiuping”- oder „Himmelskugel”-Form mit einem
betörenden Lotusblütendekor. Sie wurde, bei vorsichtiger Schätzung von
höchstens 500 000 Euro, einem chinesischen Telefonbieter zugeschlagen
mit 3,8 Millionen Euro: Inklusive Aufgeld zahlte er also 4,36 Millionen
Euro.

Gerade einen Tag später konnte Christie's mit der ganzen Pracht einer
sich auf fast sechs Metern entfaltenden, seidenen Gemälderolle
aufwarten; die kaiserlichen Hofmaler Zhang Tingyian und Zhou Kun
verewigten auf ihr um 1748 das „Siegesbankett in den Gärten des
Westens”. Die Rolle ist die vierte und letzte, die dem „Triumph des
ersten Feldzugs zur Befriedung des Jinchuan” gewidmet ist, einer
Militärkampagne, mit der Kaiser Qianlon[g (1736 bis 1795) die Provinzen
seines Reichs unterwarf. Die Kostbarkeit des Stücks, auf 800 000 bis 1,2
Millionen Euro geschätzt, wurde durch seine Provenienz aus der Sammlung
des früheren französischen Präsidenten Paul Doumer zusätzlich geadelt,
der zwischen 1897 und 1902 als Generalgouverneur in Indochina weilte.

Aus dem Bietgefecht zwischen Saal und Telefonen, an dem auch zahlreiche
Chinesen beteiligt waren, ging die anglo-amerikanische Galerie Littleton
& Hennessy Asian Art siegreich hervor, als der Hammer endlich bei 5,4
Millionen Euro fiel - brutto also 6,06 Millionen Euro: zum bislang
höchsten Auktionspreis des Jahres in Frankreich. Die Summe hat auf dem
zu ungeahnter Blüte erwachenden Markt für chinesische Kunst einmal mehr
Maßstäbe gesetzt.

http://www.faz.net/s/Rub5A6DAB001EA2420BAC082C25414D2760/Doc~E0DE4F 991108F4CBDA0D773F915F83BAC~ATpl~Ecommon~Scontent.html

 

 

__________________

with kind regards,

Matthias Arnold
(Art-Eastasia list)

http://www.chinaresource.org
http://www.fluktor.de

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