Indian artists top sellers at Christie’s Hong Kong auction

HONG KONG: The works of three emerging Indian artists were among the top sellers at the 20th Century Chinese Art sale and the Asian Contemporary Art sale at Christie’s Hong Kong autumn auction, which realised a combined total of $67.9 million.

 

It was the highest total ever achieved anywhere in the world for both categories, with the Asian Contemporary Art sale doubling Christie’s Hong Kong spring season’s result. The three top works by emerging Indian artists were: Lot 395 belonging to Ashim Purkayastha called “Fake — error”, an acrylic on canvas painted this year estimated between $20,570 - 30,860. It went under the hammer for a price of $93,600. Lot 443 belonging to Baroda artist NS Harsha was called “Melting Wit”. Also an acrylic on canvas, it was estimated between $70,720 — 99,000. It was auctioned for a price of $93,600.

 

Lot 475 had an enigmatic title “Mutant”, an oil and acrylic on canvas done by Chintan Upadhyay, who recently unveiled a mural at The Park Hotel in New Delhi. It was a work that was painted in 2005 and estimated at $18,000-25,710. It went for an impressive price of $59,280.

 

According to Christie’s, new buyers entered the market and competed vigorously with established collectors. “The tremendous success today demonstrates the strength of the market in Asia and at the same time, the pan-Asian composition of the sales resulted in buying across national boundaries,” said the art house.