Written by: Kayan Chan
Zhang Daqian is the hottest figure in the calligraphy and painting market this year, and all major auction houses are led by the works of this master of splashing ink and color.
Christie's Hong Kong's "Chinese Modern and Contemporary Paintings and Calligraphy" raised its hammer today (No. 30), and among the top three transactions, Zhang Daqian won the first place and two places - "Yun Shan Residence" and "Bitang White Lotus", the former splashed on the landscape, the latter splashed on the lotus pond, and changed hands for HK$24.25 million and HK$12.25 million respectively.
Summarizing the results of this field, 271 lots, 50 stream auctions, the transaction rate was 81.5%, and a total of 4 lots were sold with more than 10 million. Together with commissions, the venue received a total turnover of HK$296 million.
Lot 1178
Zhang Daqian (1899-1983) "Yunshan Residence"
Colored silk frame (deal winner)
Created in: 1969
Size: 72.5 x 122.7 cm
Inscription: 己酉 (1969) In January, it is written like Brother Mengdu Ren and Lady Xingzhu, and a large thousand Zhang Ye.
Plutonium seal: the great thousand only seal the big year, directly created the ancients not everywhere, can cross the Emei peak, the great thousand world
Source (value point network collation):
The original American overseas Chinese collectors are directly derived from painters and passed down by their families
Christie's Hong Kong, Chinese Modern and Contemporary Paintings, 2 June 2015, No. 1528 (HK$28,120,000 sold)
Estimate: HK$25,000,000 - 35,000,000
Hammer drop price: HK$20,000,000
Realized price: HK$24,250,000
"Yun shan juyin" was written in 1969, at the peak of Zhang Daqian's creation. Not only is the technique handy, Daqian is also more bold in the choice of materials at this time, paper, cardboard, wood board, and even fiberglass board, have been tried.
As a silk work, the ink rhyme flows quietly on the silk cloth. Looking closely, it turned out that Daqian used unfrained silk cloth, which was written without treatment. Silk is soft and fragile, difficult to write directly, and often needs to be framed on paper to achieve the hardness of being able to write. However, this silk book is not framed, but directly tied to a wooden frame, and there is no obstruction behind the picture, forming a space like a light box. Ink color and silk shine together, light ink is light, heavy color is heavy, which is a rare example of similar themes.
Part of "Cloud Mountain Retreat"
With a hammer of HK$20 million and a commission of HK$24.25 million, the game was the highest deal in the market and was acquired by the on-site buyer of the grade "9200".
The buyer seems to be particularly fond of Zhang Daqian's work, and in addition to "Yun Shan Residence", he also pocketed another splash of color, "Bitang White Lotus". "Bitang White Lotus" was sold for HK$10 million and HK$12.25 million, ranking second in the competition.
Lot 1080
Zhang Daqian (1899-1983) "Bitang White Lotus"
Colored frame on paper (runner-up)
Created in: 1980
Size: 86 x 84.5 cm
Inscription: Whiteboard bridge through Bitang, no diaphragm mirror center. Wild incense stays at night, and thirty-six gulls are cool in the world. Sixty-nine years (1980) Gengshen Autumn July, Maya Jingsha. Eighty-two sorceress.
Seal of Plutonium: Maya Jingshe, Seal of Zhang Ye, Great Thousand LayMen, Self-Hai Ji Shu Peng Yin Xin Ugly, Great Thousand Haofa
The original collector came directly from the painter
Christie's Hong Kong, Chinese Modern and Contemporary Painting, 26 November 2018, No. 1235 (HK$10,900,000 sold)
Estimate: HK$10,000,000 - 15,000,000
Hammer drop price: HK$10,000,000
Realized price: HK$12,250,000
This splashed lotus flower was written in 1980 and is one of Zhang Daqian's works in his later years.
From the inscription, it can be seen that this lotus flower was made in Maya Jingshe, Taipei. According to photographer Hu Chongxian, "In the summer of 1980, the lotus pond in the forecourt of the Maya Jingshe was in full bloom... To everyone's amazement, Mr. Daqian and I busily took out their cameras and took nearly a roll of negatives in a row... The photographs taken are breathtaking, arousing Mr. Daqian's interest in painting lotuses, and he created several lotus paintings in a row."
Zhang Daqian rewarded the lotus at the Maya Jingsha
In this work, Daqian made several new attempts. In the past, the series of large lotus flowers was mostly rectangular composition, but this work is square. In addition, Daqian used thicker drawing paper to create, and used his little fingernails to scrape off a thin layer of painting paper, resulting in a change in the thickness and thickness of the color. Through this special creative method, Daqian expresses the change of light level in the picture, making people feel the freshness and elegance of the lotus pond.
Lot 1077
Pan Tianshou (1897-1971) "Bamboo Valley Map"
Colored paper vertical axis (3rd place in the transaction)
Created in: 1954
Size: 100 x 45.9 cm
Title:
Takeya diagram.
A bay of new water is babbling green, and after the rain, the mountain is outside the mountain. Bamboo people who live small, sound flying clothes pestle on the clouds.
Jia Wu (1954) Pomegranate Kai, Shou.
Seal: Pan Tianshou, A Shou
Painter self-titled note: Pan Tianshou bamboo residence map. Early summer of 1954. Birthday sign.
Source: Christie's Hong Kong, Chinese Modern and Contemporary Paintings, 31 May 2016, No. 1368 (HK$18,040,000 sold)
Hammer drop price: HK$9,500,000
Realized price: HK$11,650,000
The runner-up was Pan Tianshou's Bamboo Valley Chart, which sold for HK$9.5 million and HK$11.65 million.
Among the Chinese calligraphers and painters of the 20th century, Pan Tianshou was a man, and the majesty, stubbornness and integrity of his works were praised by the people of the times. He pays great attention to layout, often painstakingly managing, enjoying close-up scenes, composing ingenious compositions, and is known for his "danger", which is surprisingly successful.
In "Bamboo Valley Diagram", Pan Tianshou depicts the scenery of mountain residences with sketching vision and focus perspective. He uses old and spicy brush and ink to represent boulders and mountains, making diagonal compositions, invisibly presenting a picture frame-like effect, highlighting the main body of the mountain village in the middle. The painter sketches the flat surface of the river with a few strokes, which contrasts with the thick mountains and stones. The layout is bold and ingenious, showing Pan Tianshou's majestic spirit.
A total of 4 lots were sold for more than 10 million yuan on this occasion, in addition to the above three, Wu Guanzhong's "Spring Letter" also changed hands for HK$11.05 million.
Lot 1067
Wu Guanzhong (1919-2010) "Spring Letter" colored frame on paper
Created in: 1991
Size: 94 x 177 cm
Title: Wu Guanzhong, July 1991.
Stamp: Nineties, 荼
Source: Directly from the painter himself
Estimate: HK$5,000,000 - 8,000,000
Hammer drop price: HK$9,000,000
Realized price: HK$11,050,000
Auction summary
Auction house: Christie's Hong Kong
Session: Modern and Contemporary Chinese Painting and Calligraphy
Sale date: 30 November 2021
Number of lots: 271
Sold: 221
Unsold: 50
Sell-through rate: 81.5%
Total sale: HK$296,331,250