Auction: 31 March 2025
Preview: 25 – 31 March 2025
Hong Kong — This March, as art takes center stage across the city, Bonhams Hong Kong presents Modernity Curated, a live auction that delves into the evolution of Asian art aesthetics and its ongoing dialogue with today's globalised world. The sale will take place on 31 March, preceded by a public preview from 25–31 March at Bonhams' new Asia Pacific headquarters in Six Pacific Place.
Asian art evolves over time, and this auction celebrates artists who push boundaries, fusing traditions to create new artistic expressions while staying connected to their roots. Featuring works by Liu Kuo-sung, Hsiao Chin, Shi Hu, Nguyen Khang, Le Pho, and Tran Luu Hau and more, each piece from the sale—from calligraphy-inspired brushstrokes to bold abstract compositions—offers a fresh perspective on the rich tapestry of Asian aesthetics.
SALE HIGHLIGHTS:
Tradition Reimagined: Innovation in Form and Philosophy
• Hsiao Chin, Spring Thunder (1985). Estimate HK$400,000 – 600,000
Hsiao Chin distilled Eastern philosophy into minimal forms and a limited colour palette, evoking the universe's infinite expanse and a meditative sense of mindfulness.
• Liu Kuo-sung, Tibetan Suite Series No. 202 (2013). Estimate: HK$450,000 – 650,000
Dubbed the 'Father of Modern Ink Painting,' Liu Kuo-sung pioneered a new approach to Chinese ink art by blending Western techniques with traditional Chinese philosophy and aesthetics.
• Ju Ming, Taichi Series – Cloud Hands. Estimate: HK$600,000 – 900,000
Ju Ming's abstracts fuse Chinese tradition with Western modernism to embody fluid movement and spiritual depth in sculptural form.
• Shi Hu, Untitled. Estimate: HK$100,000 – 150,000
Shi Hu's ink art merges traditional Chinese calligraphy with contemporary influences, transforming calligraphic lines into fluid symbols. It retains the charm of traditional brushwork while blending foreign aesthetics in a unique fusion of styles.
A Modern Lens on Traditional Themes
• Nguyen Khang, Fishing under the Moonlight (Circa 1985). Estimate: HK$1,500,000 – 2,500,000
Nguyen Khang's lacquer paintings reflect Vietnam's folk art traditions while integrating techniques influenced by French colonial art education, bridging heritage with modernity.
• Cheong Soo Pieng, Untitled (1960). Estimate: HK$120,000 – 180,000
Cheong Soo Pieng reinterpreted Southeast Asian village life through a dynamic visual language in his landscapes, using Chinese ink painting techniques to create abstract patterns that evoke both tradition and innovation.
Bridging East and West: A Fusion of Aesthetics
• Le Pho, Composition (circa 1965). Estimate: HK$600,000 – 1,000,000
Le Pho's vibrant colours and impressionistic style blend traditional Vietnamese themes with Western influences.
• Tran Luu Hau, Ancient Street in Hanoi (1997). Estimate: HK$400,000 – 600,000
Tran Luu Hau's abstract forms and bold colours reflect a fusion of Eastern and Western influences. His wartime experiences shaped his bold brushwork and commitment to abstraction, while traditional themes were reinterpreted with greater emotional depth.
• Chua Ek Kay, A Summer Awakening (2002). Estimate: HK$300,000 – 500,000
Chua Ek Kay exemplifies his ability to blend traditional Chinese ink painting with Western theories and techniques. His work evolved from delicate brushwork with intricate details to bold, abstract expressions, experimenting with space, light, and materials.
• Nguyen Trung, By the ocean (1974). Estimate: HK$180,000 – 300,000
Nguyen Trung succeeded in developing a unique artistic language that conveyed Vietnamese themes through the European medium of oil painting.