Chinese masterworks fetch HK$202m

Aficionados of 20th century Chinese art were out in force yesterday, spending HK$202 million on a variety of works sourced from around the globe at a Hong Kong auction.

The most expensive lot to go under the hammer at Sotheby's spring sale of 20th century Chinese art was Zao Wou-ki's 10.03.83, which drew a top bid of HK$37 million. Organisers would only say it sold to an Asian collector present at the auction in the Convention and Exhibition Centre and not to an online bidder.

The second-priciest lot was Chu Teh-chun's 25 December, which went for HK$23.6 million. Wang Yidong's Teasing the Newlyweds was the third-priciest, selling for HK$19.1 million.

Zao, 92, is China's highest-selling living artist. He is a member of the Paris-based Academy of Fine Arts, and is considered one of the most successful Chinese oil painters of the last century.

"What made Zao famous was that he could bridge the gap between the East and West way of painting - incorporating the classic Chinese way of painting together with the Western abstract style," said Sylvie Chen, Sotheby's head of 20th century Chinese art.

"Because of this, Zao impressed art lovers both in China and Europe. Everyone could find some element of his work that they could associate with."