Hong Kong - Sotheby’s Hong Kong is delighted to present Contemporary Literati: Curiosity – a conceptual lifestyle sale of contemporary ink art, abstract objects, and Chinese works of art – on 5 April (Sunday) during its Spring Sales 2015 at Hall 5, Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. The sale offers a total of 167 lots estimated at HK$78.6 – 108.2 million / US$10.1 – 14 million*.

The Contemporary Literati: Curiosity sale focuses on an extraordinary assemblage of contemporary ink paintings, intriguing ancient objects and works of art that epitomise the refined taste of the Chinese literati. This classically-rooted lifestyle sale is inspired by the European tradition of cabinets of curiosity – small ‘wonder rooms’ of extraordinary objects assembled to construct the collector’s very own microcosm of the world.

Nicolas Chow, Deputy Chairman of Sotheby’s Asia and International Head of Chinese Works of Art, says, “The Western idea of the cabinet of curiosity and the culture of the Chinese scholar’s studio share a profound kinship. The traditions both flourished in the 16th and 17th centuries and they were similarly conceived as whimsical microcosms of the natural world. The assemblage of paintings and objects in this sale was composed as the imaginary studio of a modern day Chinese literatus, where the scholarly aesthetic and 21st century sensibility meet.”

For centuries, cabinets of curiosity worldwide have fascinated and inspired connoisseurs, artists, and scholars alike. The juxtapositions of things both strange and beautiful create new contexts in which to appreciate, admire, and absorb the essence of a work of art. In the ‘Contemporary Literati’ sale series, Sotheby's celebrates this inspiring tradition and lifestyle in a contemporary way and invites viewers to appreciate contemporary ink art in a new light.

A Lifestyle Sale
Highlights of this lifestyle sale include some of the finest paintings by Liu Dan and Li Huayi ever to come to the market, as well as contemporary ink works by Inoue Yuichi, Liu Guosong, Mu Xin, Tseng Yuho, C.C. Wang, Wang Tiande, Wucius Wong and Xu Lei. These works are exhibited in the context of a wide array of objects comprising both “objets trouves” – strange rocks and roots, fossils, fragmentary sculpture, as well as scholarly works of art, whether tea bowls or writing implements, all to be displayed on austere ancient wood and stone furniture.

Katherine Don, Head of Contemporary Ink Department, Sotheby’s Hong Kong, says, “Drawing upon the abstract and fantastic qualities of ink, these artists each respond to the self-expressive nature of the medium in a variety of ways. Hailing from different backgrounds and using different media – from ink on paper and collage, to photography – it is difficult to categorise works bound by a single medium when contemporary artists today are not bound by single interests. Such diversity demonstrates a vibrant contemporary dialogue that extends beyond the zeitgeist of the past.”

SALE HIGHLIGHTS
Among the ink art offered, several are by artists presented at auction for the first time – including two paintings by the late Mu Xin (1927 – 2011), one of the leading artist-intellectuals of the Chinese diaspora who is recognised for his complex writings and landscape paintings; and the enigmatic photographs by Qiu Mai (b. 1969), whose first acquisition was by the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York and are the first photographic works in its Asian Art department collection.

Liu Dan (b. 1953), Splendour of Heaven and Earth, 1994 – 1995. Ink on paper, 190 x 500 cm. Estimate HK$10 – 15 million / US$1.29 – 1.94 million. Photo Sotheby's.

Splendour of Heaven and Earth is an important breakthrough in Chinese landscape painting and represents a successful turning point in Liu Dan’s artistic practice during the 1990s. At five metres long and crafted on a single piece of handmade paper – one of the largest works by the artist to date – this painting stands alone with no sense of beginning or end and invites the viewer into a mystical world. This landmark painting is a timeless tribute to the Chinese cultural tradition of creating one’s own spiritual and physical spaces according to one’s aspired values. Sotheby’s is proud to present this landmark painting by Liu Dan that represents the continuum and repetition of the ancient, modern and contemporary.

Gogottes
Gogottes are otherworldly and beautifully aesthetic sandstone objects formed millions of years ago. This sale features the finest mineral specimens found in Fontainebleau, France, where these forms have been appreciated as exquisite sculptures for centuries.

Sandstone concretion, Oligocene, 30 million years old, Fontainebleau sand (France), 43 x 55 x 9 cm. Estimate HK$ 85,000 – 95,000 / US$11,000 – 12,300. Photo Sotheby's.

This gogotte formation, which could be mistaken as a contemporary sculpture without knowing that it was formed millions of years ago, is made up of tiny grains of quartz forged together with calcium carbonate (also known as sandstone). These gogotte formations, or concretions, often develop into otherworldly and unique forms. Their uniqueness is open to our interpretation and flirtation with our imagination.

Li Huayi (b. 1948), Solitary Pine and Flowing Water, 1996. Ink and colour on paper, 96.5 x 170 cm. Estimate HK$3.5 – 4.5 million / US$452,000 – 585,000. Photo Sotheby's.

Li Huayi’s works are widely admired for the large and dynamic compositions that adhere to traditional standards of correct brushwork and ink tonalities. Solitary Pine and Flowing Water is an outstanding example of his masterful paintings that combines the Northern Song sense of monumentality with a Southern Song sense of intimacy into a wholly contemporary style. Property of an important American collection, this work has been frequently published and exhibited.

A White Lingbi 'Grandfather-Grandson' Scholar's Rock, Ming dynasty. Grandfather: Height 62.4 cm. Grandson: Height 25.3 cm. Estimate HK$500,000 – 700,000 / US$64,500 – 90,500. Photo Sotheby's.

Formed by two white stones of conforming shapes yet contrasting sizes and textures, the pair elegantly echoes the old Confucian trait of respect for one’s elders.

Inoue Yuichi (1916 – 1985), Buddha, 1977. Ink on paper, 143 x 188 cm. Estimate HK$ 150,000 – 200,000 / US$ 19,400 – 25,800. Photo Sotheby's.

Inoue Yuichi is the early pioneer of Japanese abstract calligraphy who was widely exhibited with great international acclaim throughout his career. Buddha is an exemplary gestural painting of his single character expressions that liberated his work from Western associations and cultivated a powerful form of modern expression. This is the first time a work by Inoue Yuichi is presented at an international auction.

A Rare ‘Jian’ ‘Hare’s Fur’ Tea Bowl, Southern Song dynasty, 12th century, 12cm. Estimate HK$2.5 – 3.5 million / US$323,000 – 452,000. Photo Sotheby's.

‘Hare’s fur’ glazes of this radiant type – which is related in colouration to the famous 'oil spot' glazes but differ in the form of their iridescent markings – are exceedingly rare. The humble appearances of these tea bowls made them appropriate for the use in Buddhist temples, and were held in great esteem in the Song dynasty (960 – 1279). Dramatically contrasting to the white foam of whipped tea, bowls enveloped in this lustrous black glaze were greatly appreciated and soon gained popularity beyond the monastic circles.

Tseng Yuho (Betty Ecke, b. 1924), Distant Time, 1991. Ink, aluminum, acrylic and dsui collage on paper, 117 x 60 cm. Estimate HK$ 220,000 – 260,000 / US$ 28,400 – 33,600. Photo Sotheby's.

Distant Time is a masterful painting by Tseng Yuho. It is a superb example of her refined deconstruction of Chinese classical landscape painting into its basic elements and combination of superior painting, calligraphy, print-making and mounting techniques. This painting was prominently exhibited nearly a dozen museums in Asia and featured in the important traveling exhibition of Twentieth Century Chinese Painting - Tradition and Innovation at the British Museum, London; Museum fur Ostasiatische Kunst, Cologne; Singapore Art Museum; and Hong Kong Museum of Art, October 1995 - January 1997.

Li Huayi, Rock Returned to Landscape: 2. Est. HK$2,500,000 – 3,500,000 / US$323,000 – 452,000. Photo Sotheby's.

A ‘Jizhou’ Splashed Bowl, Southern Song Dynasty. Est. HK$150,000 –250,000 / US$19,400 – 32,300. Photo Sotheby's.

A Huanghuali Spindleback Armchair, Meiguiyi, 17th Century. Est. HK$400,000 – 600,000 / US$52,000 – 77,500. Photo Sotheby's.

Chen Danqing, Jian Jiang. Est. HK$400,000 – 500,000 / US$52,000 – 64,500. Photo Sotheby's.

Mu Xin, Wheat Under Moonlight. Est. HK$120,000 – 160,000 / US$15,500 – 20,700. Photo Sotheby's.

A Rare Limestone Head of Avalokiteshvara, Tang Dynasty. Est. HK$1.5 – 2 million | US$194,000 – 258,000. Photo Sotheby's

Xu Lei, Empty Word – Pavilion. Est. HK$700,000 – 800,000 / US$90,500 – 104,000. Photo Sotheby's

A Massive Gilt-Bronze Fragment of a Hand, Ming Dynasty. Est. HK$280,000 – 350,000 / US$36,100 – 45,200.Photo Sotheby's

An Exceptional Cizhou Black-Glazed And Russet-Splashed Bowl, Northern Song Dynasty. Est. HK$1 – 1.5 million / US$129,000 – 194,000. Photo Sotheby's

A Fossil Fish Panel, Eocene, Green River Formation (50 Million Years), Kemmerer, Wyoming, United States of America. Est. HK$120,000 – 140,000 / US$15,500 – 18,100. Photo Sotheby's

A Monumental ‘Ying’ Garden Rock, Song To Ming Dynasty. Est. HK$2 – 3 million / US$258,000 – 387,000. Photo Sotheby's

Lu Shoukun, Zen. Est. HK$400,000 – 600,000 / US$52,000 – 77,500. Photo Sotheby's