Browsing through Zao Wou-Ki’s Close Friends, who are giving him likes?

The tracing of a great artist's creative career often reveals that the social currents of the time, their close friends and family, and their personal life all deeply influence the artist's creative output. Conversely, when we delve into an artist's biography and immerse ourselves in their life or the artistic circles they inhabited, we are often able to uncover a cross-sectional view of the artistic landscape of that era.

In response to the Greater Bay Area Art Week celebration, Poly Auction Hong Kong is set to present an exhibition centered around Zao Wou-Ki's circle of friends, bringing to light the artistic milieu of this master who straddled Eastern and Western traditions. This exhibition aims to enrich the local artistic ecosystem and offer art enthusiasts and collectors a glimpse into the artistic journey of this towering figure, situated at the intersection of Eastern and Western art history.

Venue address: Poly Gallery Hong Kong, 7/F, One Pacific Place, Admiralty

Co-presented by Poly Auction Hong Kong and SANTO HALL, curated by SANTO HALL institutional curator Lin Zi, the Post-80s Artist Zuo Yanfeng Solo Exhibition “OSTEO INDIGO” will be held between 21 and 27 March at Poly Gallery Hong Kong. This marks the artist’s first ever solo show in Hong Kong. Assembling 12 fine works by Zuo Yanfeng, the exhibition discusses the origin and the working method of his “Sentience” series in detail, which is also the first concentrated presentation of the artist’s works in this series. Coinciding with Art Basel Hong Kong, this show also exhibits headline lots of the Modern and Contemporary Art Sale in the Spring Auctions, endeavouring to connect with the global art community through in-depth exchanges.

For Zuo Yanfeng, blue is not only an important part of the colour system of his painting, but also a colour that is most consistent with his temperament revealed at his age after being sharpened by hardships and life experiences. Zuo Yanfeng’s works do not attempt to interpret concepts, do not rely on other images as material, and give up all possibility of narrative. The artist mentioned that these works are not abstract but realistic for him. Facing his works, the viewers will find it difficult to describe the content of the painting in words but will realize that a certain emotion has entered the mind along with the artwork. Zuo employs colour and brushwork to build a complex space in the painting, which is a tortuous, organic and unfolding space. According to the artist, since the emotional and psychological reality he faces is so amorphous, he must construct more room alongside of the flatness of the painting to unfold this intriguing “Sentimental-psychological Landscape”. Zuo Yanfeng’s painting shows an extraordinary movement of things. Some intensely curved lines and scarcely employed pure colours in the painting seem to imply a violent vitality breaking out of the quietness, a slumbering ancient being is awaken, a primitive force wanders in the wilderness, an underground volcano is forming in an imperceptible way to reveal itself. The viewer’s gaze follows the development of stroke in the painting, sometimes experiencing tension, and sometimes being stretched in another part. The sentiment of viewer develops and recesses as their sights follow the movement of strokes up and down.

Venue address: 7/F, One Pacific Place,88 Queensway, Admiralty

To bolster the tremendous success of the 10th Anniversary Auctions, Poly Auction Hong Kong’s Autumn Auctions 2022 will be held this October. Specially curated by each department, the auctions will present a series of exquisite lots, including Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art, Modern and Contemporary Art, Fine Chinese Paintings and Calligraphy, Magnificent Jewels and Important Watches, Noble Handbags and Hype Collectibles, and Rare Wine, Whisky and Chinese Tea.

Previews and the 3-day auctions will be held between 5 and 12 October. Headlining the Autumn Auctions are two remarkable sales presented by the Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art Department. The “Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art” Sale encompasses the beauty of classical Chinese artworks in a diverse range; whereas the “Important Tang Treasures From The Ten-views Lingbi Rock Retreat Collection” Sale will make a triumphant return this season, proactively responding to market attention towards the Tang Sancai category. The Modern and Contemporary Art Sale will offer the most sought-after masterworks by renowned artists, including Wu Guanzhong, Zao Wou-Ki, Chu Teh-Chun, Ayako Rokkaku, Chiharu Shiota and many more, showcasing the most popular and potential works in the current market for all collectors.

Venue address: Poly Gallery, Room 701 & 1512 One Pacific Place, Admiralty

On 12 and 13 July, Poly Auction Hong Kong is proud to present its first ever Modern and Contemporary Art Evening Sale and Day Sale to celebrate its first 10th Anniversary. The sales will offer an extraordinary selection of Western and Asian works, comprising of over 150 art masterpieces with unprecedented diversity. The two sales will have a combined total estimate of over HKD 300 million, establishing the highest Modern and Contemporary Art pre-sale estimate record in the auction house’s history. The sales will offer works of 20th Century Modern Art, and Eastern and Western Contemporary Art with a variety of museum-quality masterpieces, covering breath-taking works by iconic artists including Jean-Michel Basquiat, Wayne Thiebaud, Adrian Ghenie, Wu Guanzhong, Zao Wou-Ki, Chu Teh-Chun, Yayoi Kusama, Yoshitomo Nara, to name a few, offering collectors an exceptional opportunity to collect. To continue on the successful highlights previews in Hong Kong last month, Poly Auction Hong Kong’s Taipei Highlights Preview will be held between 18 and 19 June at Breeze Exhibition Centre in Taipei.

Venue address: Hall 1E, Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, 1 Expo Drive, Wanchai

Taking place on 29 – 30 November, the Hong Kong auctions of 20th Century & Contemporary Art & Design presented by Phillips in association with Poly Auction will encompass works by Impressionist, Modern and Contemporary masters, as well as works by the most in-demand artists on the market today. Led by an incandescent masterpiece by Gerhard Richter, the sales will also be highlighted by works from Claude Monet, Auguste Rodin, Alexander Calder, Matthew Wong, Julie Curtiss, Salman Toor and Javier Calleja. As demand for Western and African art continue to heat up in Asia, the Evening and Day Sales will also feature Asia auction debuts by Billie Zangewa, Scott Kahn, Ewa Juszkiewicz, Raymond Pettibon, Mickalene Thomas, and more.

Highlights Preview 23-24 November 10am-7pm
Viewing 25-30 November 10am-7pm

Venue address: JW Marriott Hotel Hong Kong, 88 Queensway, Admiralty