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The Fall Sales in Beijing Set All-time Records and Hefner Collection Artists Led The Way
by Jon Burris, December 18, 2006
At the two highest selling auctions held in Beijing this November, several artists represented in The Hefner Collection set impressive records. At the top of the list was Leng Jun whose Century View No. 3, 1995 sold for US$728,247 from a pre-sale estimate of $275,000-325,000. The hyper-realist oil painting of rusted scrap metal and plumbing pipe configured in the shape of a world map measuring 41"x78" had been exhibited, along with other Hefner Collection artists' works, in the China Realism Annual exhibition held in November at the National Art Museum of China, Beijing. While this represented the highest record price for Leng Jun, a second painting by the artist, Toolbox, 2000 went for $86,945, still much higher than any other paintings by Leng Jun sold previously at auction. Both pieces were in the Poly International Modern Chinese Art auction on November 21st.
Also at Poly International, Wu Guanzhong's Village in Suburb of Beijing, an early 1963, 18"x24" oil brought $560,938 and a much later Village Hotel, Britain, 1993 sold at $357,598. Setting the standard for the ever-increasing prices of Wang Huaiqing's popular old house and furniture series of paintings, Poly sold his Traces of Nature, 2004, a large 100"x78" canvas for $462,774. Two Wang Yidong paintings also climbed past the $400,000 mark. Auspicious Snow, 2001 went for $421,159 at the China Guardian auction and By the Yi River, 2002 reached $420,142 at Poly.
Prices for Chen Yifei's well-known series of canal scenes held steady. His Spring Day in a Water Town, circa 1980's painting brought $308,850 and his Zhouzhuang, 1980's sold for $294,811 at China Guardian. Artist Yang Feiyun had to be pleased by the record auction prices realized for his works: Studio, 1987 sold for $294,099; Free, 2006 went for $280,095. Both paintings were sold by Poly International. China Guardian auctioned Yang's Girl with Braids, 1999 for $280,772.
Several contemporary oil paintings sold in the $200,000-300,000 range including Ai Xuan's: Hell and Gone Song, 2006, at $280,000, his Wasteland After Snow, 1994 for $223,100, and his Dusk, Eve, 1989 at $210,071, all auctioned by Poly. Three canvases from Chen Yanning's Fan Series were sold as a set by Poly for $280,095 while Luo Zhongli's Hug, 2003 went for $252,085 and Zhan Jianjun's Girl In Red, 1987 sold for $238,080.
At China Guardian an Untitled abstract from Wu Dayu's 1970's Peking Opera series sold for $245,676. One of Xia Xing's triptych paintings, Abuse the Sky, 2000 brought $238,886, a record auction price for the artist. Chang Qing's Squatting Girl, 2005 went for $210,579 representing another record price.
At this fall's auctions, Poly International brought in $24,342,164 for 480 lots sold at their three sales; Modern Chinese Art, Chinese Contemporary, and Historical Transition. China Guardian totaled $14,671,282 for 242 lots sold at their Oil Paintings and Sculptures and 20 Years of Contemporary Chinese Art auctions. Such results show just how strong Post-Cultural Revolution Chinese oil painting has become in today's market.
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