HONG KONG.- On 26 – 27 May, Christie’s 20th/21st Century Art sale series established an exceptional sale total of HK$1,809,526,380/ US$231,529,651 (Evening Sale: HK$1,407,783,000/ US$180,116,966; 21st Century Art Day Sale: HK$232,268,280/ US$29,717,263; 20th Century Art Day Sale: HK$169,475,100/ US$21,695,423), and outstanding sell-through rates of 97% by lot and 91% by value. The sales attracted fervent global bidding from 19 countries across 3 continents, for diverse masterpieces by international established and rising artists, setting a total of 36 new world auction records.

Evelyn Lin, Deputy Chairman and Co-Head of the 20th and 21st Century Art Department, Christie’s Asia Pacific, remarked, “We are thrilled to once again lead the auction market in Asia, and to witness such passion and enthusiasm from collectors which translated into superb results for our sales this spring. They underscore the vibrancy and resilience of the market, and the masterful curation and expertise of our specialist team in sourcing the most important and appealing masterpieces. Works by artists across different genres and geographies have consistently performed well season after season, and we look forward to continue offering the best of what the market has to offer in our sales later in the year.”

Cristian Albu, International Director and Co-Head of the 20th and 21st Century Art Department, Christie’s Asia Pacific, added, “It has been a pleasure to meet and engage with collectors and the art community here in Hong Kong, throughout what has been an exhilarating month of art events in the city. In particular, our Flesh & Soul: Bacon/Ghenie exhibition welcomed many visitors and was warmly appreciated. Through our sales and exhibitions, we successfully tell stories to drive conversations with collectors and art lovers, so as to educate, exchange ideas, and share a mutual appreciation of art. We constantly strive to eliminate boundaries and limits to present more top quality works to the community, and we hope to continue doing so going forward.”

EVENING SALE HIGHLIGHS

Top lot of the evening sale second highest auction price ever achieved for the artist. Lot 15. Zao Wou-ki (Zhao Wuji, 1920 - 2013) , 29.09.64, signed in Chinese and signed ‘ZAO’ (lower right); signed, titled, inscribed and dated ‘ZAO WOU-KI 345 x 255 29.Sept.64. 254 x 344’ (on the reverse), oil on canvas, 230 x 345 cm. (90 1⁄2 x 135 7⁄8 in.) Painted in 1964. Price Realised: HK$278,000,000/ US$35,568,349 (Estimate HKD 220,000,000 – HKD 280,000,000). © Christie's Images Ltd 2022

Most expensive work by Picasso sold at Christie’s Asia. Lot 48. Pablo Picasso (1881-1973), Buste d’homme dans un cadre, signed 'Picasso' (upper left); dated '29.3.69.' (on the reverse), oil on canvas, 92 x 73 cm. (36 1⁄4 x 28 3⁄4 in.) Painted in Mougins on 29 March 1969. Price Realised: HK$174,950,000/ US$22,383,750 (Estimate on request). Property from The Estate of Sir Sean Connery, sold partially to benefit The Sean Connery Philanthropy Fund. © Christie's Images Ltd 2022

Lot 51. Yoshitomo Nara (B. 1959), Wish World Peace, signed with artist's signature, titled and dated ‘2014 wish world peace’ (on the reverse), acrylic on canvas, 194 x 162.2 cm. (76 3⁄8 x 63 7⁄8 in.) Painted in 2014. Price Realised: HK$97,090,000/ US$12,422,054 (Estimate HKD 88,000,000 – HKD 128,000,000). © Christie's Images Ltd 2022

Artist Record. Lot 8A. Adrian Ghenie (B.1977), Pie Fight Interior 12, signed and dated 'Ghenie 2014' (on the reverse), oil on canvas, 284 x 350 cm. (111 3⁄4 x 137 3⁄4 in.) Painted in 2014. Price Realised: HK$81,060,000/ US$10,371,116 (Estimate HKD 68,000,000 – HKD 98,000,000). © Christie's Images Ltd 2022

DAY SALE HIGHLIGHTS

Top lot of the 20th Century Art Day Sale. Lot 329. Zao Wou-ki (Zhao Wuji, 1920 - 2013), 24.5.61, signed in Chinese, signed ‘ZAO’ (lower right); signed, titled and dated ‘ZAO WOU-KI 24.5.61’ (on the reverse), oil on canvas, 100 x 80 cm. (29 1⁄2 x 32 1⁄2 in.) Painted in 1961. Price Realised: HK$20,250,000/ US$2,592,312 (Estimate HKD 14,000,000 – HKD 24,000,000). © Christie's Images Ltd 2022

Lot 321. David Hockney (B.1937), Two Red Pots, signed and dated ‘David Hockney 87’ (on the reverse), acrylic on canvas, 91 x 61 cm. (36 x 24 in.) Painted in 1987. Price Realised: HK$11,850,000/ US$1,516,982 (Estimate HKD 9,000,000 – HKD 15,000,000). © Christie's Images Ltd 2022

Lot 349. Vũ Cao Đàm (1908-2000), Divinité (Divinity), signed and dated ‘vu cao dam 66’ (lower right); signed in Chinese, signed again, titled and dated ‘vu cao dam Divinite 1966’ (on the reverse); gallery label affixed (on the reverse), oil on canvas, 59.5 x 48.5 cm. (23 3⁄8 x 19 1⁄8 in.) Painted in 1966. Price Realised: HK$945,000/ US$120,975 (Estimate HKD 100,000 – HKD 150,000). © Christie's Images Ltd 2022

Top lot of the 21th Century Art Day Sale. Lot 186. Yayoi Kusama (B. 1929), Pumpkin, signed and dated ‘Yayoi Kusama 1995’, titled in Japanese (on the reverse), acrylic on canvas, 31.8 x 41 cm. (12 1⁄2 x 16 1⁄8 in.) Painted in 1995. Price Realised: HK$20,850,000/ US$2,667,626. (Estimate HKD 12,000,000 – HKD 22,000,000). © Christie's Images Ltd 2022