HONG KONG.- Sotheby’s Hong Kong announced more than 200 lots estimated at HK$88 million / US$11 million in the Modern and Contemporary Asian Art – Evening Sale and Modern and Contemporary Southeast Asian Paintings Day Sale on 5 and 6 October, respectively, during the Autumn 2014 Sale Series. Together, the two sales will feature important paintings by the region’s most sought-after modern artists, which will be led by an exceedingly rare large-format oil-on-canvas masterpiece by Indonesian artist Lee Man Fong. On the contemporary front, leading Filipino artists Ronald Ventura, Andres Barrioquinto, Lao Lianben, Benedicto Reyes Cabrera and Alfredo Esquillo, Jr. will be featured alongside I Nyoman Masriadi and Arin Dwihartanto Sunaryo, among others.

Mok Kim Chuan, Head of Modern and Contemporary Southeast Asian Paintings Department at Sotheby’s Hong Kong, said: “This season, we are immensely privileged to present in the Evening Sale Lee Man Fong’s exceptional oil-on-canvas masterpiece, Bali Life. The painting is the second large-format canvas work by the artist on this subject matter to appear at auction in the past two decades. The other, also titled Bali Life, sold for HK$25.3 million at Sotheby’s in April 2010, established the then world auction record for any Southeast Asian artwork. We are honoured to be entrusted with another exemplary Lee Man Fong work whose many attributes – a unique composition, large format and rare medium – contribute to its unparalleled significance.

Other highlights include the auction debut of Anita Magsaysay-Ho’s Paghuhuli Ng Mga Manok (‘Catching Chickens’), a rare large-format piece from the artist’s oeuvre. Also included will be a significant selection of fresh-to-the-market works by three pioneer Nanyang artists from Singapore, namely Cheong Soo Pieng, Chen Wen Hsi and Georgette Chen, whose works have played a significant role in shaping Singaporean art.”

I. HIGHLIGHTS FROM MODERN AND CONTEMPORARY ASIAN ART – EVENING SALE (5 OCT)
Lee Man Fong (1913 – 1988), Bali Life 1974, oil on canvas, 82.5 x 184 cm Estimate upon request
Bali Life reflects the schools of thought that influenced the history of Chinese classical paintings. Xieyi, the expressionistic style that achieved recognition during the Ming dynasty, employed animated ink strokes to depict the emotions associated with classical portrayals of landscape, human interactions or wildlife scenes. The incorporation of freehand strokes enabled artists to capture the innate energy within their subject matter. Lee Man Fong has, throughout his career, produced many artworks according to the Xieyi philosophy and method. Bali Life, however, is a unique piece due to its medium: Lee Man Fong rarely painted on canvas, executing many of his oil pieces on Masonite or wooden boards instead. Only two Bali Life works on canvas have ever been presented at auction in the past two decades; the other established the world auction record for the artist in 2010. In 1941, the artist visited Bali for the first time. It was during this trip that he discovered many of the themes which would come to populate his oeuvre. Bali Life is an homage to the island that inspired the artist throughout his lifetime.

Anita Magsaysay-Ho (1914 – 2012) Paghuhuli Ng Mga Manok (‘Catching Chickens’) 1962, oil on canvas, 102 x 132 cm Est. HK$5 – 8 million / US$641,000 – 1 million
Among the overwhelmingly male canon of 20th-century Southeast Asian modern art, the artistic achievements of Filipino artist Anita Magsaysay- Ho shine brightly. Known as the ‘Female Amorsolo’, if only because both Filipino artists chose to paint variations of womanhood, Magsaysay-Ho’s representations are formed not by sensuality, but rather as a celebration of national pride seen through the feminine spirit. Paghuhuli Ng Mga Manok (‘Catching Chickens’) is a classic piece from the artist’s oeuvre with a popular subject matter, and one of her largest works to ever appear at auction from the 1960s period. Magsaysay-Ho’s portrayals of rural women inspire empathy in the viewer, creating a reciprocal relationship that has garnered her much acclaim. Indeed, Magsaysay-Ho has been recognised as one of the ‘Thirteen Moderns’ who had a transformative impact on Filipino modern art – the only female among them.

Miguel Covarrubias (1904 – 1957) In Preparation of a Balinese Ceremony Circa 1930s, oil on canvas, 61.5 x 89 cm Est. HK$3 – 5 million / US$385,000 – 641,000
Bali, a sanctuary for many artists both foreign and native, has cultivated new means of creative expression. Mexican caricature artist Miguel Covarrubias was one such figure, whose three- month visit in 1930 transformed into nine months and was soon followed by an even lengthier stay one year later. In Preparation of a Balinese Ceremony was created in the 1930s during Covarrubias’ sojourn in Bali. In contrast with the artist’s caricature works, the current painting is absent of such comedic intent. Reflective of the artist’s experience sharing in the intimacies that defined the daily lives of locals, it celebrates the grace and dignity of the people whom he befriended there, and may be seen as a window into a living culture.

Ronald Ventura (b. 1973) The In Between Nest 2013, oil on canvas, 152.5 x 305 cm Est. HK$800,000 – 1.2 million / US$103,000 – 154,000
The In Between Nest depicts a fantastical world that is subject to the interpretation of viewers, suggesting a society which lacks commitment to one ‘truth’ over the other. The present work perfectly exemplifies the visual cacophony and surreal imagery that have come to populate Ronald Ventura’s oeuvre. Mickey Mouse and children, skulls and angels, all reside within the colourful worlds that are unique to the artist’s creative vision. Hyper-realistic with cartoonish drawings, Renaissance imagery and graffiti doodles, The In Between Nest refers to the allegorical painting The Garden of Earthly Delights by Hieronymus Bosch, a portrayal of mankind having lost their moral compass amidst the bedlam, falling prey to temptations. The work may be viewed as a contemporary take on the medieval painting, with Ventura appropriating Bosch’s version of paradise lost for his modern day parable for the public.

II. HIGHLIGHTS FROM MODERN AND CONTEMPORARY SOUTHEAST ASIAN PAINTINGS DAY SALE (6 OCT)
The Modern and Contemporary Southeast Asian Paintings Day Sale embodies the spirit and creativity unique to the region. Hendra Gunawan’s intimate work Portret Diri dan Anak (‘Self-Portrait with Child’) and Affandi’s Market Under a Banyan Tree provide insights into a Southeast Asia of yesteryear through an abstract lens. Contemporary works by artists including Arin Dwihartanto Sunaryo and Alfredo Esquillo, Jr. add fresh perspectives to the group, showcasing the vibrancy and energy of present day Southeast Asian art.

• Hendra Gunawan (1918 – 1983) Potret Diri dan Anak (‘Self-Portrait with Child’) 1978 Oil on canvas, 149 x 95 cm Est. HK$800,000 – 1.5 million / US$103,000 – 192,000

• Affandi (1907 – 1990) Market Under a Banyan Tree 1966 Oil on canvas, 99 x 125 cm Est. HK$1.4 – 2.2 million / US$179,000 – 282,000

• Arin Dwihartanto Sunaryo (b. 1978) CMYK Bucket Splash 2011, pigmented resin mounted on wood, in 4 parts (quadriptych) Each: 168 x 169 cm (4); Overall: 168 x 676 cm Est. HK$300,000 – 500,000 / US$38,000 – 64,000

• Alfredo Esquillo, Jr. (b. 1972) The Clouds, Expecting; The Drama, Unfolding 2014, oil on canvas, in 3 parts (triptych) Each: 162.5 x 101.5 cm; Overall: 162.5 x 304.5 cm HK$140,000 – 250,000 / US$18,000 – 32,000