HONG KONG.- The Boundless: Contemporary Art sale series has built a reputation for its distinctive selection of genre-crossing modern and contemporary art and classic 20th century design from both Asia and the West, and its latest installment is no exception. On 23 June at Sotheby’s Hong Kong Gallery, a sale of 78 lots of modern and contemporary painting, sculpture and installation, street art, photography and design furniture by such renowned artists as Pierre Soulages, Zao Wou-ki, Keith Haring, Paik Nam June, Yves Klein and Edward Weston will be presented, capped by the rare offering of a set of twenty-four Picasso silver plates – the first appearance of a complete set at any auction worldwide.

Isaure de Viel Castel, Head of Boundless Sales at Sotheby’s Hong Kong, said: “This June, we are immensely privileged and excited to offer a unique set of 24 Picasso silver plates, the highest estimated lot ever presented in the Boundless sales. In addition to works by blue-chip modern and contemporary masters, Boundless is also known for progressively expanding the range of artists offered at auction in Hong Kong in tune with art market trends. Featured works in the forthcoming auction include iconic charcoal drawings by legendary American painter and sculptor Robert Longo, a sculpture by American conceptual artist Sherrie Levine, and photos by 20th-century photography masters, to name just a few.”

MODERN AND CONTEMPORARY ART
A SET OF 24 PICASSO SILVER PLATES
Leading the upcoming Boundless sale is a set of twenty-four silver plates by Pablo Picasso, marking the first ever appearance of a complete set at auction worldwide. Picasso created a large volume of ceramics and crockery in numbered editions, but only crafted silver plates in 24 designs. Conceived between 1956 and 1967, the plates were designed by Picasso together with acclaimed French silversmith François Hugo, then cast by Hugo and his son Pierre Hugo on private requests. All 20 editions of each plate have been sold out for years, making this an exceptional opportunity for discerning collectors to acquire the full set which has never before been available.

In addition to the Picasso silver plates, a dynamic line-up of modern and contemporary Asian and Western art will also be offered in the sale. Connecting the dots between artists from East and West, Chinese abstract master Zao Wou-ki’s oil painting 06.03.63 will be juxtaposed against his French contemporary Pierre Soulages’ Peinture 92 x 65 cm, 1955, both of which are minimalist in colour and composition. A quintessential example of his seminal application of paint, abstract expressionist artist Sam Francis’ Faller (Untitled) from 1987 adds a splash of colour to the sale, while German artist Max Ernst’s Le chant de la grenouille is a fine example of his surrealist portrayal of animals. Street artist Keith Haring’s Untitled (Luna Luna A Poetic Extravaganza) – completed in 1986 towards the end of his life – offers a glimpse into the precarious nature of Haring’s life as a homosexual artist in post-war America. Works by Chu Teh-Chun, Paik Nam June, Lee Ufan, KAWS, Victor Vasarely, Robert Longo and Sherrie Levine will also be presented.

DESIGN FURNITURE
An integral aspect of the Boundless sale, design furniture brings with it a lifestyle-oriented take on art, offering a fresh perspective on infusing art into everyday life. Eight design objects including tables, lamps, chair and carpet will be offered, featuring Yves Klein’s Table D'or, Ettore Sottsass’ Rosa Giallo, as well as Elizabeth Garouste and Mattia Bonetti’s Tables Feuilles, among others.

20TH-CENTURY PHOTOGRAPHY
Boundless constantly evolves and develops each and every season, striving to broaden collectors’ horizons and enhance their collections. This June, the sale revisits photography with a special focus on 20th-century photography featuring four iconic images from Western masters: American photographer Edward Weston’s nude photograph of his wife from 1936, celebrated as one of the most aesthetically perfect nude creations of the 20th century; British photographer Bill Brandt’s Vienna studio style nude; and Hungarian photographers André Kertesz’s Satiric Dancer and Brassaï’s Fille de joie, quartier Italie.