Sanyu’s Masterpiece Reclining Nude, with Raised Knee II from the Collection of Doctor Eric Edwards, Paris to Lead the Evening Sale on 25 November, Alongside Seminal Works by Yoshitomo Nara, Pierre Soulages, Liu Ye, Yayoi Kusama, and Nicolas Party

The Day Sale on 26 November to Highlight the Collection of Zao Wou-Ki’s Daughter Sin-May Roy Zao, and a Diverse Range of Chinese Contemporary Artists

HONG KONG – 14 November 2024 – Phillips is thrilled to present highlights from the upcoming Modern & Contemporary Art auctions in Hong Kong on 25-26 November. Taking place on 25 November, the Evening Sale showcases exceptional works from a blend of Modern and Contemporary masters, including Sanyu, Pierre Soulages, Yoshitomo Nara, and Yayoi Kusama. Notable highlights also feature sought-after young talents such as Nicolas Party, Vojtěch Kovařík, Claire Tabouret, and Li Hei Di. Boasting an extensive selection of artworks, the Day Sale on 26 November ranges from established blue-chip to up-and-coming artists. Among the Modern highlights are works from the collection of Zao Wou-Ki’s daughter, Sin-May Roy Zao, creating unique dialogues between the works of her father and his close friends. The Day Sale will present a variety of Chinese contemporary artists from different periods spanning the last three decades, spotlighting prominent artists like Liu Ye, Wang Guangle, Sun Yitian, and more, tracking the development of this category and reflecting recent trends. Prior to the auctions, the preview exhibition will be open to the public at Phillips’ Asia headquarters in Hong Kong’s West Kowloon Cultural District from 16 to 26 November.

Meiling Lee, Head of Modern & Contemporary Art, Asia, said, “We are honoured to present our Fall auctions, showcasing works from highly significant collections with impeccable provenance. Phillips is proud to have established itself as a leading auction house for Yoshitomo Nara in recent years, highlighted by the remarkable sales of Lookin' for a Treasure sold for HK$ 84 million / US$ 11 million, Hothouse Doll for HK$ 103 million / US$ 13 million, and Missing in Action for HK$ 123.7 million/ US $ 16 million, which set the second-highest auction price for the artist. We are delighted to present iconic works that encapsulate the very best of Nara’s practice during a time when his market continues to thrive. Additionally, reflecting the growing importance of Modern Art in our strategy, we are grateful to have been entrusted with the sale of significant works by Modern masters such as Sanyu, Pierre Soulages, and Zao Wou-Ki that have never been offered at auction.”

As previously announced, the Evening Sale will be led by Sanyu’s masterpiece Reclining Nude, with Raised Knee II, from the esteemed Collection of Doctor Eric Edwards in Paris. An acclaimed collector of works by Sanyu, Dr. Edwards has owned some of the artist’s most prominent pieces in the past, including the record-breaking Five Nudes. Created from a late period of Sanyu’s life, the present work epitomises his relentless quest into art, his time, and the world. With its boldly exaggerated composition and powerful, simplified linearity, Sanyu transcends traditional conventions, merging elements of Chinese shanshui with a fresh interpretation of the Western nude. In addition, a selection of ink on paper works by Sanyu from the Collection of Doris & Gilles Habart, inherited from Michel Habart in France, will be offered in the Day Sale. These pieces present the diverse aspects of Sanyu’s explorations of the female body.

Yoshitomo Nara’s Little Girl and Yayoi Kusama’s Nets & Dots
This season, Phillips is delighted to present iconic works that reflect a multitude of media and eras from Yoshitomo Nara’s artistic practice. Leading the Evening Sale is Baby Blue, a striking piece created at the turn of the millennium in 1999, which emerged during a pivotal moment in Nara’s career. The desirability of works from this period is underscored by the artist’s two highest auction results, which are canvases created just one year later. This piece is one of the few large canvases featuring the full torso of Nara's signature young girl, representing a notable moment before his transition to shoulder-up portraits in the latter half of the 2000s. Baby Blue was first unveiled at his solo exhibition at the Marianne Boesky Gallery in New York, marking a significant milestone as Nara’s debut show in the city.

Another leading highlight in the Evening Sale is Nara’s Fountain of Life, a groundbreaking and widely showcased sculpture from the artist’s early career. Other examples from this series have been prominently exhibited, including the first work made in 2001 and presented at his first major survey exhibition, I DON’T MIND, IF YOU FORGET ME., at the Yokohama Museum of Art. In the present work, Yoshitomo Nara captures the essence of childhood innocence while poignantly acknowledging its inevitable loss. This piece highlights the pain, grief, and loneliness of growing up. The delicate celadon green and lacquer finish evokes a sense of softness and empathy, critiquing how adult pressures can overshadow childhood simplicity. The work invites viewers to reflect on their childhood experiences, blending joy with an underlying sense of fear. As Nara’s only motorised sculpture, it signifies a key transition in his artistic evolution.