T his year marks the 20th anniversary of the Asia Art Archive, the non-profit organisation founded by Claire Hsu and Johnson Chang Tsong-zung as a chronicler of the region’s contemporary art scene. Now an internationally recognised institution, it has amassed a large collection and has a vibrant research, residency and educational programme. The money it raises from its annual auction and gala dinner is vital to its operations. This year’s banquet tables will be shrunk to reflect social-distancing limits of four seats but it is hoped that the star-studded auction will generate plenty of online bids from patrons who don’t make it to the October 30 live event. There are about 30 artworks on offer, including works donated by some of Asia’s best-known artists. Mt. Fuji of my heart speaks (2014) is a print donated by Yayoi Kusama. The polka-dot-obsessed Japanese artist experimented with traditional woodblock printing techniques after a visit to the iconic mountain. While the conical outline of Mount Fuji is instantly identifiable, the luminous composition of mainly primary colours is not a realistic representation, but a reflection of what the artist felt, as the title suggests. Chinese artist Zhang Huan has created an “ash painting” as a birthday gift to the Asia Art Archive and the people of Hong Kong. Northward (2020), which features a seagull made from incense ash, seems to allude to the debate over the degree of autonomy that the city has as a Chinese “special administrative region”. According to the artist, the bird is a symbol of harmony and hope in traditional Chinese paintings, while the seagull has specific associations with the uniqueness of character and resourcefulness. Perhaps that’s why his seagull is flying east rather than north. Another noteworthy artist donation is Yang Jiechang’s Oh My God (2002). The work may date from nearly two decades ago but, as the artist puts it, “oh my god” is the sound of today’s generation, embodying both despair and hope. Artists with works to be auctioned include Irene Chou , the subject of a comprehensive exhibition at the Asia Society Hong Kong Center last year. Other pieces featured are works on paper by Luis Chan Fook-sin , a sculpture by Lee Bul , and a new work by Nilima Sheikh that is a meditative reflection on what comes after a devastating pandemic. The artworks can be viewed at aaa2020auction.com and bids can be placed from now until October 30. Up for auction at the Asia Art Archives ...