Sotheby’s is presenting Sotheby’s Beijing Art Week to be held from 28 November to 1 December at China World Summit, Wing Beijing. Beijing Art Week is an ambitious series of arts events to be held by Sotheby’s in China, encompassing fine and decorative art, historic jewellery with a total value of over RMB 1.3 billion / USD 212 million.
The four-day series of arts events is set to offer a comprehensive, world-class art experience to Chinese collectors, which includes a major auction of Modern and Contemporary Chinese Art, three selling exhibitions, namely Modern Masters: From Rembrandt to Picasso – Representation of the Figure in Western Art, Age of Elegance: European Paintings, Furniture and Works of Art From the 19th Century, and SOTHEBY’S DIAMONDS, as well as two exhibitions of European paintings and works of art – highlights from Sotheby’s New York Sale of Important Old Master Paintings and Antique Jewellery with Royal Provenance from S. J. Phillips Ltd., London. A series of educational programmes by Sotheby’s Institute of Art will feature top scholars from China and Sotheby’s specialists.
Kevin Ching, Chief Executive Officer of Sotheby’s Asia, said: “Sotheby’s Beijing Art Week is an important cultural milestone both for Beijing and for Sotheby’s. Our company’s 300-year-old brand combined with our 40- years’ experience in the Asian marketplace position us well to bring world-class resources in art, exemplary client service and operational excellence to further enhance the already vibrant arts scene in China’s capital of culture. Sotheby’s Beijing Art Week is the largest art event that we have held in China since the Company’s official entrance to the China market last year. The four-day series of arts events has been specially tailored for both new and established Chinese collectors to offer Chinese art auction pieces and European paintings and works of art available for sale through our capabilities as a multi-channel arts business. Sourced worldwide by our global team of experts it is our hope that our selection of Modern and Contemporary Chinese Art and Western art will educate an ever wider audience of Chinese collectors as well as encourage potential collectors. We are very honoured to host Sotheby’s Beijing Art Week and thank our partner, Beijing GeHua Art Company, for their support and contribution.”
Wen Guihua, President, Sotheby’s (Beijing) Auction Co. Ltd., said: “Sotheby’s Beijing Art Week auction of Modern and Contemporary Chinese Art auction on 1 December 2013, estimated at around RMB130 million / USD 21 million, brings to sale more than 140 works by eminent artists, which have been sourced by Sotheby’s global network. Four specially-curated sections, namely 20th Century Chinese Art, New Wave 80’s – 90’s: Art of Transformation in China, Contemporary Chinese Art, and Contemporary Chinese Ink, will focus on both Chinese artistic development in the Modern era and Chinese Contemporary Art practice since the Cultural Revolution. Highlighting the Modern works in the 20th Century Chinese Art section is the rare Abstraction by Zao Wou-ki from the collection of the prestigious Art Institute of Chicago. Together with a stellar line-up of specially- curated selling exhibitions and arts events to be held during the vibrant fine art season in Beijing’s art calendar, we look forward to offering collectors from around the country superlative art experiences and assisting them in their collecting needs.”