NEW YORK, NY.- A contemporary Chinese scroll painting by H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III ,the highest ranking Buddhist leader in the world, soared to $16,500,000 at auction today to break the artist's auction record. The action took place at Gianguan Auctions, 295 Madison Avenue, during a sale that also featured traditional Buddhist art and splendors of the Qing Dynasty.

"Lot 109, a painting titled "Ink Lotus," with two artists seals, is a vigorous ink-and-color on paper executed in traditional Chinese style. It bears the artist's statement in calligraphy that translates, "An utter chaos strewn with broken strokes: a peculiar sight, yet wondrously endowed with a soul-soothing charm". The quoted price does not include buyer's premium.

The painting reflects the inner quest for order. At first glance, it seems an abstract work created by a blast of wind that has swept up the scroll and left behind sublime trails of black ink overrun with broken strokes and riotous splotches smeared and splashed here and there. From the confusion order emerges in the form of pink lotus blossoms that stand pure and elegant, their leaves laden with charm.

The combination of chaos and composition suggest flux. The delivery is the result of the artist's masterful control of the brush combined with the spontaneity of creativity. The result is the paragon of artistic attainment to which painters aspire.

H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III was schooled in the ancient arts of Chinese scholars and has long enjoyed a reputation as a masterful painter. His works are on view in the International Art Museum of America, inaugurated in 2012, in Covina, CA.

That same year, the artist's "Contemporary Carp" reached the podium at Gianguan Auctions. It brought $330,000. That auction also saw his "Contemporary Cat" reach $230,000. The sale of "Ink Lotus" now firmly places the work of H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III at the highest levels of contemporary art.

The decision to channel the sale of "Ink Lotus" through Gianguan Auctions is appropriate. Not only is Gianguan Auctions the only Chinese-American owned auction house in New York, its owner, Kwong Lum, also shares international acclaim as an artist. In 2013 Mr. Lum was honored by the Cultural Department of Xinhui in the city of Jiangmen, Guangdong Province.

Interestingly, on the occasion of the opening of H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III's International Art Museum of America, the US government sent a fleet of historic World War II airplanes to create a cloud cluster above the museum. Congress also passed Resolution No. 6L4 formally using the honorific title of H.H. (His Holiness) for H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III. A year earlier, the Mayor of Washington, DC, proclaimed January 19,2011 H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III Day. The United States Postal Service issued a commemorative envelope in honor of the day.

Throughout his lifetime, H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III has steadfastly advanced his artistic sills in the manner of traditional Chinese painting. Working in ink and oils, he continues to add to his catalog of paintings.

According to Gianguan Auctions director Mary Ann Lum the buyer of "Ink Lotus" prefers to remain anonymous. Mrs. Lum did, however, state announced that the painting will travel to California, where it will become part of a private collection.