HONG KONG.- In celebration of its 40th anniversary in Asia, Christie’s announces an important exhibition, ‘The Royal Academy International Exhibition of Chinese Art 1935–36: A Commemorative Tribute’, to be held in October 2026, alongside Hong Kong Asian Art Week this autumn, at its Asia Pacific headquarters at The Henderson. In collaboration with Daniel Eskenazi, the exhibition will also be accompanied by the launch of his major new scholarly publication revisiting the original landmark 1935–36 exhibition. Nearly a century on from the original exhibition, Christie’s builds on this legacy with a presentation revisiting a pivotal chapter in 20th-century cultural history and its continued resonance today. Bringing together works of exceptional rarity and significance, it places outstanding examples from across periods and traditions in dialogue.
The original exhibition, ‘The Royal Academy International Exhibition of Chinese Art 1935–36’, was unprecedented in both scale and ambition. It brought together over 3,000 works spanning millennia, including imperial masterpieces and other important works — many drawn from leading collections in China and internationally in the 1930s — at a time when such loans were extraordinarily rare. Attracting more than 400,000 visitors, it introduced generations of Western audiences to the depth and sophistication of Chinese civilisation, fundamentally reshaping global perceptions of Chinese art.
As a key inspiration for the exhibition, Christie’s is honoured to host the launch of a major new scholarly publication by Daniel Eskenazi, ‘1935 The International Exhibition of Chinese Art’, a comprehensive re-examination of the landmark 1935–36 Royal Academy exhibition. Presented as the first fully illustrated republication of the original catalogue, the expanded six-volume work brings together over 2,000 images from newly rediscovered archival negatives, alongside essays by scholars from Greater China and around the world in English and Chinese. Envisioned as a definitive reference, the project offers fresh insight into the scale, refinement, and global impact of the original exhibition.
Marking Christie’s 40 years in Asia, this commemorative tribute exhibition, together with the launch of Daniel Eskenazi’s important publication, underscores Christie’s long-standing role in advancing global discourse and appreciation of Chinese art, as well as its continued commitment to developing Asia as a premier destination for Asian art and a global hub for collectors and connoisseurs through scholarship, cultural exchange, and collecting. Presented within the striking contemporary setting of Christie’s Asia Pacific headquarters at The Henderson, the masterpieces — alongside this scholarly endeavour — on view will create a compelling interplay between past and present, where tradition and modernity intersect.
Stay tuned for further details on exhibition highlights and the major publication by Daniel Eskenazi.
In 2026, Christie’s, the world-leading art and luxury business, is celebrating its 40th Anniversary in Asia. Over the last four decades, Christie’s has established itself as Asia’s leading house, orchestrating many of the region’s most historic and record-breaking sales of exceptional objects and collections, driving region-wide expansion, and pioneering digital innovations that have redefined the way Asian collectors connect with and experience the industry. To celebrate this milestone, Christie’s is presenting a year-long programme of art and luxury sales, exhibitions and events across the region.
