2008 Auction History

[Pierre Tavlitzki]

All Results in BOLD

A Staircase by Szafran (watercolour) is estimated at 250 K € by Versailles Enchères, Lot 203 of the sale of 14 December. (SOLD 206 K€ including fees)

Christie's devotes a whole release to a work by Zeng Fanzhi showing Mao and his colleagues before a crowd, for sale in Hong Kong on November 30, lot 505. (UNSOLD). In the same sale there is a great Bloodline Big Family of Zhang Xiaogang, lot 502. (SOLD 26 MHK$ including fees).

Presented separately, three Nanas by Niki de Saint Phalle 2.60 m high meet at Lempertz in Cologne on December 5 (Lots 425, 426, 427, 250 K € each). (SOLD together 750 K€ before fees)

For my first visit to Ravenel, I previewed a Big Family of Zhang Xiaogang, a small (80 x 100 cm) painting estimated 26 MNT$ in Taipei on December 7, Lot 292. (SOLD 28 MNT$ including fees)

A work in steel and plexiglass of 1977 by Donald Judd is the star of the sale of Phillips de Pury in New York on November 13 ($ 4 million, lot 15). (SOLD 3.2 M$ including fees)

John Currin is to be seen twice in the coming days:
At Phillips de Pury (same sale as above) at $ 500 K, lot 24 (UNSOLD)
and
At Sotheby's in New York on 11 November ($ 3.5 million, lot 4). (SOLD 5.5 M$ including fees)

A "Mountain", no less! This sculpture by Anish Kapoor (2.55 x 5 x 2.81 m) comes at Bonhams in Dubai on November 24 ($ 1.8 million, lot 51). (UNSOLD)

An amazing Boxer by Basquiat is at Christie's in New York on November 12. An indiscretion of the press (Associated Press) is talking about $ 12 million. (SOLD 13.5 M$ including fees)

Sales of Arabic and Iranian art show always good surprises. For lack of better criterion to offer you a choice, I present you with the two lots that Christie's has set in the first page of his release for the sale of October 30 in Dubai: an oil on canvas by Zenderoudi (195x130 cm, 400 KUS $ , Lot 57) (UNSOLD) and a mixed technique by British artists Noble and Webster (102x203x10 cm, 250 KUS $ Lot 99). (SOLD 300 KUS$ including fees). The work of Zenderoudi is particularly well represented in this sale.

Christie's sale in London on October 19 includes a large abstract painting by Gerhard Richter (£ 6 million, lot 22). (UNSOLD)

On November 12 at Christie's in New York, a fantastic sculpture by Murakami is expected at $ 5 million. (SOLD 3.4 M$ including fees)

Christie's sells in Zurich on December 1 an installation of Fischli and Weiss in two showcases of 145 x 145 x 57 cm (900 KCHF). The Swiss believe that this lot is a major work of their contemporary art. (SOLD 1 MCHF including fees)

Kate Moss as an artist is unexpected, and it is at Lyon and Turnbull in London on September 27, with a lipstick and blood on canvas (122 x 91 cm, £ 30 K, lot 160) (SOLD 28 K£ before fees).

Flower Matango, a monumental sculpture by Murakami (4 x 3 x 2.5 m), hopes 24 MHK $ at Sotheby's in Hong Kong on October 4. (UNSOLD). Equally monumental, an oil on canvas by Gupta showing a taxi at airport (2 x 4.2 m) is estimated 12 MHK$. (UNSOLD).

Oddly combining themes of theatre and navy, a painting by Liu Ye is expected at 9 MHK $ in Hong Kong at Sotheby's on October 4 and 5. (SOLD 13 MHK$ including fees). In the same sale, we will see a family portrait by Zhang Xiaogang (20 MHK $). (SOLD 23 MHK$ including fees).

On the program on September 18 in New York at Sotheby's: "Falling figure with bird" by Tyeb Mehta ($ 1 million), (SOLD 1.5 M$ including fees), "One cow" by Subodh Gupta ($ 600 K) (SOLD 660 K$ including fees) and "The Last Supper", a later work by Francis Newton Souza (500 K $). (UNSOLD).

Gupta is decidedly throughout this early season. An oil on canvas is estimated at 20 MRs by Saffronart, lot 53 of the online sale of 2 to 4 September. (SOLD 30 MRs including fees).

Zeng Fanzhi is leading the sale of contemporary Chinese art at Sotheby's on September 17 in New York with the lot 7, a painting, 100 x 80 cm, from the Masks series ($ 900 K). (SOLD 1.1 M$ including fees).

Zeng Fanzhi will also be the star of the sale of Sotheby's in Hong Kong on October 4, with an outlandish painting in tribute to Warhol (MHK $ 20). (UNSOLD).

The online catalogue of the sale entitled Beautiful Inside My Head Forever came out, and is highlighted by an interesting video showing many lots. This sale of September 15 is devoted entirely by Sotheby's London in the work of Damien Hirst, and all major lots date in 2008. The work based on animals in formaldehyde are the lion's share, although this beast is not included in the sale. (SOLD including fees : 10,3 M£ the golden calf, and 9,5 M£ a shark). A large showcase is mixing fish and fish skeletons (2.5 million £, lot 46). (SOLD 2.9 K£ including fees).

Sale at Christie's in New York on September 16 includes four works by Subodh Gupta including an accumulation of utensils ($ 600 K) (SOLD 1 M$ including fees) and a painting ($ 800 K). (SOLD 1.1 M$ including fees).

The Scottish art auctions will be an opportunity to follow the value of Vettriano, whose paintings are for sale at Sotheby's Gleneagles Hotel, Perthshire on August 26 (SOLD maximum 97 K£ including fees) and at Bonhams in Edinburgh on August 29. (SOLD a painting 17 K£ before fees).

A scroll of 5.30 m entitled Along the Yangtze River (1990) is sold by the artist himself, Wu Guangzhong, in Hong Kong at Sotheby's on October 6, for the benefit of a foundation created in his name at the Tsinghua University in Beijing. (SOLD 15.8 MHK$ including fees).

Sidharta Auctioneer announce as the highlight of its sale of 9 and 10 August in Jakarta an oil on canvas made between 1978 and 1981 by Hendra Gunawan, curious figurative composition of 95 x 145 cm, entitled Mother and Child with Papaya Seller, estimated 1 billion Rp (Lot 27 of the sale of 9 August). Do not panic, this figure represents approximately U.S. $ 100 K. (SOLD 975 MRp before fees).

Hirst sells the Golden Calf. It is full and in formaldehyde, and it is at Sotheby's in London on September 15 (£ 8 million). (SOLD 10.3 M£ including fees).

Wild neck of Orlinski, at Massol in Deauville on August 16, is a crocodile in polyresine of 1.10 m long with a necklace made of aluminium (estimated 8 K €, lot 292).

A reduced model of Angel of the North by Gormley, still 5.3 m wide, is sold by Sotheby's in London on July 1 (600 K£). (SOLD 2.3 M£ including fees). A sculpture from 2003 by Kapoor is more important than those presented since the beginning of the year. To be followed (1 M £). (SOLD 1.95 M£ including fees).

Lot 140 of the sale of Versailles Enchères on July 6 is a mixed oil, textile and jute canvas of 231x191 cm made in 2000 by an artist whom I had not yet spoken, Manolo Valdes (300 K €) . (SOLD 330 K€ before fees).

In the sale of Sotheby's in London on July 1, a Basquiat (£ 4 million, lot 48) is included, (SOLD 5.1 M£ including fees) and also Prince with his Overseas Nurse (£ 4 million, lot 22). (SOLD 4.2 M£ including fees).

On 26 June, lot 36, the British auction house Bloomsbury Auctions presents a collective work on canvas done by Warhol, Basquiat and Clemente (estimated £ 100 K). (UNSOLD)

A collector of Dallas sells at Christie's on June 30 a Balloon Flower (Magenta) by Koons. The Dallas Morning News unveils the estimate: £ 12 million. It is interesting to comment that the sale of this American work by its American owner takes place in London. (SOLD 12.9 M£ including fees).

There are two Banksy at Dreweatts on June 17 in London: an oil on canvas, Portrait of an artist (Lot 25, 100x140 cm, 150 K £) (UNSOLD) and a spray on board, Bombing middle England (Lot 96, 130x58 cm, 50 K £ ). (SOLD 120 K£ including fees). Information found on Artnet.

The two largest auction houses in China are currently organizing charity sales of contemporary art, following the earthquake. We see at Poly a peaceful painting by Zeng Fanzhi (180x260 cm) inspired by this disaster. (SOLD 6.7 M RMB including fees The sky of hope by Zeng Fanzhi). The sale of Poly takes place in Beijing on May 29. (SOLD 12.5 M RMB including fees a painting by Zhang Xiaogang).

China Guardian's auction stands in the same city from 25 to 27 May. (SOLD 33.5 MRMB, probably before fees, Blood May 2008, a 20 m x 2 m painting made by 29 artists directed by Ai Xuan, Yang Feiyun and Wang Yidong).

Christie's sells in Paris a Spider of stainless steel and tapestry by Bourgeois, on May 27 (1,8 M€, lot 20, 74x112x89 cm). (SOLD 2.9 M€ including fees). In the same sale an oil on canvas of Mitchell of 1983 (900 K€, lot 17, 218x192 cm). (SOLD 1 M€ including fees).

By Kapoor, we see in the sale of Christie's in New York on May 14 a sculpture containing a concave mirror (800 K$). (SOLD 940 K$ including fees).

In the sale of contemporary art of Borobudur Auction in Singapore from May 16 to 18, I recognized a portrait by Feng Zhengjie (150x150 cm, 150 KS$, lot 1083) (SOLD 300 KS$ including fees) and a Mask by Zeng Fanzhi (60x50 cm, 200 KS$, lot 1109). (SOLD 500 KS$ including fees). One will also review paintings by I Nyoman Masriadi (top SOLD 280 KS$ including fees) and Agus Suwage. (top SOLD 220 KS$ including fees).

The highest estimates of the sale of Poly at Beijing on May 28 go to two large oils on canvas of Chen Yifei: lot 417 at 18 M yuan and lot 450, a nude, at 9 M yuan.

Phillips de Pury prepares its great sale of the spring, which will take place in New York on May 15. One finds there a fallen angel of Basquiat (8 M$, 177x198 cm, lot 121), (SOLD 11.2 M$ including fees), a marble self-portrait 95 cm high by Koons (6 M$, lot 111), (SOLD 7.5 M$ including fees), an abstract oil by Richter (5 M$, 2x2 m, lot 119). (SOLD 4.5 M$ including fees). Among the unexpected ones, a hairy wax leg in a leather shoe by Robert Gober (1,2 M$, lot 128). (SOLD 3.6 M$ including fees). A black granite of Kapoor is estimated 800 K$ (156x191x30 cm, lot 130). (UNSOLD).

For the pleasure of making a trip in Taiwan, I present to you, guided in that by Artnet, Quotation of Chairman Mao, an oil on canvas by Zeng Fanzhi estimated 660 KUS$ at Kingsley Art Auction on May 31 (1,80x1,50 m, lot 107). (SOLD 1.5 MUS$ including fees).

In the same country and with the same guide, I chose a green stainless steel dog by Zhou Chunya, on June 8 at Zhong Cheng Auctions (12 MNT, i.e. 365 KUS$, 2x0,6x1 m, lot 95). It is not the expensive lot of the sale, but it draws you the tongue! (SOLD 540 K US $).

Again Gupta at Sotheby's: after London, now New York on May 14, with a 2003 painting on the topic of airport carriages (500 K$). (SOLD 820 K$ including fees). The following day, May 16, a lacquered minimalist bronze of 2001 by Anish Kapoor is estimated 250 K$. (SOLD 300 K$ including fees).

On April 30 in Dubai, Christie' s sells a pre-revolutionary bronze of the Iranian Parviz Tanavoli (1,4 MDh), (SOLD 2.8 M$ including fees), seven works of the Iranian Charles Hossein Zenderoudi (maximum 1,4 MDh) (SOLD maximum 1.6 M$ including fees) and a triptych by Ahmed Moustafa (1,2 MDh). (SOLD 420 K$ including fees).

Sotheby' s also supplemented its advertisement for the May 14 sale in New York: a Prophet dating from the New Yorkean beginnings of Basquiat (9 M$), (SOLD 9.5 M$), a multiple Christ, 112 times!, by Warhol, which would end almost up resembling wallpaper (10 M$) (SOLD 9.5 M$) and a minimalist structure of Judd (5 M$). (SOLD 4.2 M$). Sotheby' s also pushes a sculpture of Murakami (3 M$) (SOLD 15 M$) and Glyphs by Marden (2 M$). (SOLD 4.3 M$).
(Results include fees).

In the sale of contemporary art of Christie's in New York on May 13: a Nurse by Prince (6 M$) (SOLD 7.4 M$ including fees)

At Lempertz in Cologne on May 29, the sale is for younger people, with a monumental structure (285x285x20 cm) made of nails and of acrylic by Günther Uecker, dated 1995 (300 K€). (UNSOLD). Let us also mention Dicetyl phosphates by Hirst of 2005 in its plexiglass (overall 85x138x6 cm, 400 K€, lot 545). (UNSOLD).

Uecker again with two works in the same technique as above at Dorotheum in Vienna on May 28. (SOLD 155 and 47 K€ including fees).

In preparation of its sale of May 14 in New York, Sotheby's comes to arouse the Russian collectors by exposing the next week in Moscow a selection of contemporary art, carried out by a charming lady caterpillar made of steel by Koons (5,5 M$) (SOLD 6 M$ including fees) and one from now on traditional nurse by Prince (3,5 M$). (SOLD 4.7 M$ including fees). In the top list of the estimates, these two works occupy respectively 13th and 19th places of the sale, which tells as length on the hopes of sales turnover of Sotheby' s for this sale.

I have a bit of trouble with China, the information in English is rather sporadic. At Poly Auctions in Beijing, I pointed out an interesting view of Hong Kong by Wu Guanzhong, 60x136 cm, estimated 1.8 MRMB. In the absence of other information, I suppose that it will be part of the sales session scheduled for late May.

Contemporary art also in Bonhams New York on May 13 with an installation by Judy Chicago (350 K$), (UNSOLD), a gang of four monkeys by Banksy (180 K$) (SOLD 210 K$ before fees)

Lucian Freud in the wake of Bacon: Christie's estimated 18 million pounds a painting entitled Big Sue, for sale in New York on May 13. (SOLD 33.6 M$ including fees).

This Sunday, April 13 in Singapore, Larasati Auctioneers organise an auction of contemporary art featuring mostly young or very young Indonesians, Koreans and Chinese artists.
SOLD, probably before fees :
by Luo brothers, 46 years old Chinese, "Welcome the World's Famous Brand" : 276 K S$.
by the Indonesian I Nyoman Masriadi, 35 years old, "Me and my Coke" : 240 K S$.
by the Indonesian Agus Suwage, 49 years old, "Pandora Box" : 150 K S$.

On July 16 in New York, Christie's pushes a Turkish artist, Mustafa Gunen, 52 years old, putting on sale a painting entitled "Son Dakika" (Last Minute). (not confirmed).

On May 2 in London, Sotheby's presents a selection of Indian artists : the youngest, Subodh Gupta (SOLD 260 K£) and Atul Dodiya. (SOLD 140 K£). I note by the way that a bronze installation by Subodh Gupta has been awarded the best price at 410 K € excluding fees within the sale of contemporary art of Artcurial on 3 and 4 April.
(Sotheby's results include fees)

The sale on April 30 by Christie's in Dubai will enable to appreciate the market in the Middle East, both from the viewpoint of artists from these countries and for their interest in the West, because there is a Love by Indiana at 1 M$ (183x183x91 cm, lot 136), (SOLD 1.15 M$), an abstract triptych by Ahmed Moustafa at 350 K$ (Lot 70, three times 117x117 cm) (SOLD 420 K$) and three large abstract paintings by Hossein Zenderoudi : Lot 57, 400 K$; (SOLD 600 K$) ; lot 59, 200 K$; (SOLD 1.6 M$); lot 60, 250 K$. (SOLD 420 K$).
(Results include fees).

Gene Shapiro Auctions in New York makes its inaugural sale of Russian art on April 17. This house, which does not disdain the art of Western Europe, can capture the market for Russian and Ukrainian emigrant art in America. It presents a 120 K$ Semyon Faibisovich acrylic prepared for a cover of Time magazine (Lot 219, 127x97 cm). It represents Gorbachev in character card to play, as a star king. (SOLD 144 K$, probably before fees).

In the sale of Bonhams in London on May 20, there is a painting by Fassianos (Lot 143, 200x251 cm, 100 K£). (SOLD 100 K£).

A sale of Arabic Art is organized on March 29 by the CMOOA in Casablanca. There is in particular a painting by the Iranian Farhad Moshiri (800 KDh), (SOLD 1.6 MDh including fees), another by Wafae Alahouch el Keriasti (45 KDh), (UNSOLD)

In the sale organized by Osian's on March 18 in New Delhi, we find Subodh Gupta, (SOLD 8.2 MRs) just having got a great result at Saffronart. Artists like Tyeb Mehta, (SOLD 19.8 MRs), Sayed Haider Raza, (SOLD 10.3 MRs), Francis Newton Souza (who died in 2002), (SOLD 15.6 MRs), Maqbool Fida Husain, (UNSOLD two works estimated 8 and 6.4 MRs), Ganesh Pyne, (SOLD 6.7 MRs), Ram Kumar, (SOLD 10.6 MRs), Jagdish Swaminathan (who died in 1994) (SOLD 20.4 MRs) are the certainty of the generation before, but the artists under fourty are also there. (SOLD 16,8 MRs a painting showing apes in an armchair, 139x139 cm, by Rameshwar Broota.)
These prices include fees.


It should be noted that many artists of South-East Asia of the last generation (under forty years) are included in the sale at Sotheby's in Hong Kong on April 8. I had already announced the sale. Note on April 9 the very contemporary sculpture (2007) by Lin Tianmao showing a nude woman and a frog (HK $ 550 K), (SOLD 967 KHK$ including fees) as well as videos. (SOLD 270 KHK$ including fees a DVD by Wang Jianwei).

Artcurial manage his major contemporary and Italian art auctions on 3 and 4 April, and modern art auctions on 9 and 10 April. In their advertisement in La Gazette de l'Hotel Drouot, I noticed a Great Criticism Hitachi by Wang Guangyi, 150x100cm, April 3, 300 K €, (SOLD 270 K€ before fees) not by taste but for the pleasure to compare with the Great Criticism Disney sold £ 230 K fees included at Phillips de Pury late February, which took the honours of this column. The latter was much larger (2x2 m), but ten years later. The artist did not change his style during this period ...

Compared to my column of Jan. 20, a few new works were presented by Sotheby's for their sale on 17 March in New York: Another Zhang Xiaogang, the latter to $ 1.8 million (UNSOLD), a triptych by Zeng Fangzhi of the series of Masks (800 K $) (SOLD 1.05 M$ before fees), and we learn that the explosion of the Centre Pompidou of Cai Guo-Qiang, which we have already talked about, was an order from ... the Centre Pompidou! (UNSOLD)
Results of this sale show some change in the value of top Chinese contemporary artists. I think that Zhang, whose work is rather repetitive,was previously overvalued. It may be noted that his painting from his most important style (the Bloodlines series) still made a good price at 937 K$ including fees for a low estimate of 1 M$, but that his later work crashed down at 713 K$ for a low estimate of 1.5 M$.
I do not comment Yue because his work at 769 K$ in this sale was not a major one, and I believe his best works shall continue to lead this market.

The sale of a collection of Italian contemporary art by Sotheby's in Milan on April 8, allows us to review artists of this country, where art is active but so little represented in the French auctions. Estimates are around a few tens of KEuros. I will be more accurate when the results will be available (according to my usual, I will include them in bold in this article). (SOLD including fees 192 K€ a composite work by Jannis Kounellis and 162 K€ a tapestry by Alighiero Boetti).

In online sales by Saffronart in Mumbai on March 13, 7 works are expected to more than 4.5 MRs each. The artists involved are between 42 and 52 years old. They are, starting with the oldest (an original classification in this column!): Surendran Nair (2 works) (SOLD one of them 21.2 MRs), Baiju Parthan (SOLD 5.4 MRs), Atul Dodiya (2 works) (SOLD 7.9 and 6.5 MRs), Subodh Gupta (SOLD 18.1 MRs) and Shibu Natesan (SOLD 10.7 MRs). Thanks to Artvalue for putting this sale on the front page of its website, otherwise I would not have found it. Above prices include fees.

On May 24, in Hong Kong, Christie's attack the market for contemporary Chinese art, and offers works by Zeng Fanzhi, (SOLD 75 MHK$ including fees), Yue Minjun (top SOLD 54 MHK$ including fees) and Zhang Xiaogang. (top SOLD 18 MHK$ including fees).

My anticipation of the entry of Banksy among the greatest, when I made the announcement in December of the Bonhams sale of Urban Art, has just come true with the RED sale: a large work (2.14 x3.15 m) was sold $ 1.7 million excluding charges under Sotheby's hammer on February 14.

Further details about the sale of contemporary art at Sotheby's in London on February 27: A Big Family of Zhang Xiaogang is very large (3 meters wide) and could therefore obtain the highest price for this artist in sales that we have already discussed (1.5 M£). (SOLD 1.7 M£ including fees). Millionaire bids are also expected, as it is now usual, for Yue Minjun. (SOLD 920 K£ including fees). Follow also one of the youngest, Liu Ye, now in his forties, with two paintings each valued 500 K£. We have already seen him in those price ranges. (SOLD 520 K£ including fees and UNSOLD).

On February 21, The Market in Tokyo sells contemporary art, including a work by Lee Ufan at 18 million yen (162x130 cm).

Regarding the Russian contemporary art, Sotheby's is attempting a second gallop trial in London on March 12, but the Russian buyers seem to be more attracted by modern art than by contemporary art. This is a follow out of curiosity, and to hear the names of lesser-known artists. (SOLD 400 K£ before fees a painting by Oleg Vasiliev). Mention one of the newest, an oil on canvas from 2007 by Vladimir Dubossarsky and Alexander Vinogradov showing a girl with a blue beetle (20 K £). (SOLD 55.7 K£ including fees).
Meanwhile MacDougall's organise an exhibition sale ("silent auction"), to conclude on March 20, on post-war Russian nonconformist art.

The works most prominent in the Kolkata sale by Emami Chisel on February 23 are three fantastic paintings: a character from Tyeb Mehta (150x103 cm, 40 MRs) (SOLD 40 MRs), an equally strange acrylic by MF Husain (318x168 cm, 20 MRs) (SOLD 40 MRs), and a gloomy manor house by FN Souza (122x61 cm, 15 MRs) (SOLD 15 MRs). The work unknown in Europe of these figurative artists from India have a considerable margin of progress in the auctions.
These prices do not include fees.

FN Souza is also (121x99 cm, 880 KDh) in the Dubai sale by Bonhams on March 3. (SOLD 380 K$ before fees). Beside it : a Bird and mountain almost abstract by another regular artist of such sales, Jagdish Swaminathan (120x90 cm, 920 KDh). (SOLD 220 K$ before fees). Some transcendental abstract paintings are rated slightly higher than those mentioned above, we will check carefully the results. (SOLD 900 K$ before fees : a work by Farhad Moshiri, 176x155x8 cm).

After citing the major Bacon (SOLD 20 M£) and the Warhol (SOLD 11.4 M£) of the sale at Sotheby's London, Feb. 27, let us mention now a Jeff Koons in stainless steel 180 cm tall (£ 1.5 million) (SOLD 3.1 M£), two paintings by Richter, the first showing a candle, 95x90 cm (£ 1.8 million) (SOLD 8 M£), and another abstract, 225x200 cm (£ 1.5 million) (SOLD 4.6 M£). Some works expected above the million £ appear to be expensive, such as a Don Quixote by Polke, 80x60 cm, 1.2 million pounds (SOLD 1.05 M£). The Chinese contemporary art is well represented by its currently best known artists: Zhang Xiaogang (SOLD 1.7 and 1.15 M£), Yue Minjun (SOLD 920 K£), Yan Pei Ming.(SOLD 700 K£)
(The above price results include fees)

At Phillips de Pury in London on 28 and 29 February, a Surfing Nurse painted by Prince is estimated 1.5 million pounds, (SOLD 2.1 M£ including fees), a pharmaceutical painting by Hirst also £ 1.5 million. (SOLD 1.75 M£ including fees). In this sale there are several Wang Guangyi including a Great Criticism Disney at K £ 200. (SOLD 230 K£ including fees).

Christie's announced a sale in Hong Kong for May 24 and 25, including a curious painting by Yue Minjun (Big Swans, 10 MHK$), who despite his critics is one of the most eclectic artists of the new generation, (SOLD 19 MHK$ including fees) and large scale work by Zeng Fanzhi (Mask Series, 15 MHK$), where you can find a small air de famille (dare I say!) with the work of Yue. (SOLD 75 MHK$ including fees).

At Tajan a sale is devoted on May 20 to Ettore Sottsass, recently deceased. (SOLD 110 K€ including fees a group of five totems).

The catalogue of the sale RED headed by Sotheby's in New York on February 14 has been released. Damien Hirst, who is one of the organizers, is not disturbed to put four of his works as being the most expensive of the sale. His Pills' Cabinet is expected for $ 5 M. (SOLD 6.2 M$ before fees).

France and China met unexpectedly: Explosion Project for the Centre Pompidou, a monumental work by Cai Guo-Qiang (artist known for his use of gunpowder), will be in the sale of Asian art by Sotheby's on March 17th in New York ($ 500 K). (UNSOLD).
Appearing now almost commonplace, a painting by Zhang Xiaogang is estimated $ 1 M. (SOLD 937 K$ including fees).

Let us report an exceptional result out of traditional circuits: an oil on canvas by the young Chinese artist Yang Xiaobing, showing a human face in full format greater than nature, would have been sold SGD 50 million ($ 35 million) by Sidharta in Jakarta on December 15, 2007 (information found in the Artvalue database but not found on the website of the auction house).

Maqbool Fida Husain is the modern artist who begins to predominate in the Indian art sales. A figurative painting is estimated $ 250 K at Sotheby's New York on March 19. (SOLD three paintings by Husain 409, 289 et 265 K$ including fees). Of course the works of this artist reach regularly good prices in the Indian auction houses. This is an opportunity to welcome the recent establishment of Emami Chisel Art, based in Kolkata. See also Bid & Hammer, who officiates especially in Bangalore. Since the beginning of the year the frequency of press releases relating to auctions in India accelerated considerably.

A new major work is announced by Sotheby's for sale in London on 27 February, in the same sale that the nude painted by Bacon (SOLD 20 M£ including fees): a self portrait in triptych of Andy Warhol painted the year before his death. Estimated £ 10 million, it may be more expensive. (SOLD 11.4 M£ including fees).

A city that was not yet in our files: Shanghai. Artcurial China makes its first sale on January 20 in this place. Their auction is devoted to contemporary Chinese art, with artists to be discovered. (SOLD the most awaited lot of the sale, a big size self portrait of Chen Yifei with female beauties, for 24 M RMB premium included).


In the sale of the Albou collection at Artcurial Paris on January 29, we can see around Cesar (SOLD : a big welded iron at 250 K€ and another work at 165 K€)
and Arman (SOLD four lots for more than 130 K€ each, including a cello on panel at 300 K€).
a painting with neon by Raysse at 120 K € (UNSOLD),
a trap by Spoerri at € 130 K (SOLD 110 K€),
a big size lacerated poster by La Villeglé (150 K €) (SOLD 120 K€),
and an undoubtedly overvalued Chen Zhen's Meditation at 350 K €. (SOLD 320 K€).

Immediately afterwards on February 6, Christie's London present the first sale of the year when the works are likely to be placed in the top 100 in 2008. The Gerhard Richter presented in the press release seems still expensive at its 6 M £ low estimate. Its ambiguous character could appeal, but it is a small size for a Richter (115x160 cm). (SOLD 7.3 M£ including premium)Also announced: a Basquiat from the best period to 5 million pounds (SOLD 6.5 M£ including premium)and a Judy Garland by Warhol to 2 million pounds.(SOLD 2.1 M£ including premium)

On February 5, Bonhams London devotes an entire sale to the tag art, featuring the new controversial artist, Banksy, who began in 2007 to record bidding frenzy in London and even in Vienna. (SOLD "Laugh now", spencil spray paint on painted board, 107x604 cm, 190 K£ before fees ; one element of same character, 43x43 cm, 62 K£ before fees)
Among other artists, let us cite Anthony Micaleff (SOLD between 1.7 and 2.2 K£) and Paul Insect. Bonhams mentions that Damien Hirst has purchased a comprehensive exhibition of the works of Paul Insect last year, canceling it de facto. The title of Paul's work presented by Bonhams stirs curiosity: Elvis, from the Dead Rebels Series. Artprice knows only one painting by this artist now in his thirties and Artvalue none. I do not believe even for a while in the Bonhams estimate: 5 K £. (SOLD 12 K£)

A major charity auction for which eminent artists gave works on the theme of red, will be held on February 14 in New York. Damien Hirst himself (him again!) solicited donor artists. Hirst is not only a major artist but also as a key person in the art market. Sotheby's will hold the hammer.(SOLD 6.2 M$ before fees a pill cabinet by Hirst).

On February 5, Bonhams London devotes an entire sale to urban art (transposed on canvas), featuring the controversial new artist, Banksy, who could reject the late Jean-Michel Basquiat and Keith Haring into the have been. (SOLD "Laugh now", spencil spray paint on painted board, 107x604 cm, 190 K£ before fees ; one element of same character, 43x43 cm, 62 K£ before fees)
A sale to be followed, not considering the low estimates which, as with any real innovation, are not really meaningful. And do not call any more "contemporary art" those by artists who died twenty years ago!