HONG KONG.- The Asian contemporary and modern art auction market has enjoyed unprecedented growth in the past ten years. This has happened alongside the proliferation of international art fairs and other secondary market offerings, all of which have served to cement Hong Kong’s status as a buying and selling hub for Asian contemporary and modern art.

Previously the Director Asia of Art Basel, Magnus Renfrew was appointed Deputy Chairman, Asia and Director of Fine Arts, Asia last September. Since re-joining Bonhams, Magnus has worked tirelessly to promote Bonhams' development in Asia, beginning with the appointment of several key leadership roles in the contemporary and modern art department. Under his leadership, Bonhams will present two highly-anticipated auctions in October and November.

MODERN AND CONTEMPORARY ART
Sales Date: October 3rd, 2015

Taiwan: 5-6 Sep 2015 (Fubon International Convention Center - Basement 2nd Floor)
Beijing: 15-16 Sep 2015 (Four Seasons Hotel Beijing - 5/F, Imperial Ballroom)
Hong Kong: 30 Sep-2 Oct 2015 (Conrad Hong Kong - Lower Lobby, Grand Ballroom)

An overview of the development of Asian modern and contemporary art, the Modern and Contemporary Art auction will be presented in a curatorial format to bring to light artists whose works have delivered strong and consistent results in the auction market works of up-and-coming artists. Comprising some 100 art pieces, the sale puts as much emphasis on quality as quantity.

With roots in the beginning of the 20th century, the development of Asian modern and contemporary art has been heavily influenced by western representations of art and notions of beauty. The westernisation of traditional art forms, the development of art from its classicist to abstract days, it’s no secret that Asian art has undergone major developments in the last century.

Currently, the market focuses on two major trends: artists whose works are competing in the international art arena, and artists whose works who are contributing to dialogue on the re-assessment of Asian art history.

With boundaries between countries and continents slowly disappearing in the era of globalisation and the internet age, collectors have to keep track of an international market brimming with the views of a varied group of collectors. With this in mind, Bonhams Hong Kong’s contemporary art sales will focus on Asia, forging a new path in the auction world while leveraging our existing global connections.

PRINTS, PHOTOGRAPHS AND WORKS ON PAPER
Sales date: November 14th, 2015
Consignment deadline: September 1st, 2015

Bonhams will become the first auction house in Asia to hold a sale dedicated to Prints, Photographs and Works on Paper.

Presenting outstanding works by internationally-renowned artists, the auction is a strategic response to the growing popularity of the genre in Asia. With prices falling in the HK$10,000 - HK$850,000 range, the sale will offer highly competitive bidding, especially among young cultivated collectors with international tastes in art.

Highlights include works by Damien Hirst, Yoshitomo Nara, Yayoi Kusama, Andy Warhol, Anish Kapoor and Jeff Koons, Ma Desheng and T’ang Haywen.