Press Release Hong Kong Kong

For Immediate Release

Hong Kong | Winnie Tang | +852 2822 8129 | winnie.tang@sothebys.com | Cecilia Leung | +852 2822 5509 | cecilia.leung@sothebys.com

SOTHEBYS HONG KONG TO PRESENT FINE CHINESE PAINTINGS SPRING SALE 2013 ON 5 APRIL
- Highlighting The Reappearance Of Quintessential Works At Sothebys Hong Kong, Including Ding Yanyongs Crane On The Wait For Flight, and Tao Lengyues Narcissus - Featuring Fresh-to-the-Market Works By Prominent Modern Chinese Artists Including Zhang Daqian, Qi Baishi, Lin Fengmian, Huang Binhong and Wu Changshuo - Introducing An Ensemble Of Late Qing and Early 20th Century Calligraphy and Fan Paintings Hong Kong, March 2013 2013 Sothebys Hong Kong will present its Fine Chinese Paintings Spring Sale 2013 on 5 April at Hall 5, Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. This sale will feature exquisite paintings executed at different stages of the artistic careers of such modern Chinese artists as Zhang Daqian, Qi Baishi, Huang Binhong, Wu Changshuo, Lin Fengmian, etc., many of which amassed from prestigious collections and are fresh to the market. Offering over 300 lots, lots the sale is expected to fetch in excess of HK$130 million / US$16.6 million*. million C.K. Cheung, Head of Sotheby's Fine Chinese Paintings Department, Department said: Commemorating our 40th Anniversary in Hong Kong, Sothebys is proud to reassemble some of the most outstanding works sold at our past auctions, including Ding Yanyongs Crane in the Wait for Flight and a four-panel painting, Narcissus, by Tao Lengyue. The former was previously sold at Sothebys legendary Special Sale of Paintings and Calligraphy by Ding Yanyong - The Great Master in 1998 the first dedicated sale held by an international auction house for an established Hong Kong-based Chinese ink painting artist. It is one of the largest works ever painted by Ding and was created for an important art exhibition held by Nanga Society of Japan. As for Taos Narcissus, it was entrusted to Sothebys by the artists family in 2001, and we are delighted to offer this exceptional piece again on our 40th Anniversary.

Also noteworthy is an ensemble of late Qing and early 20th Century calligraphy and fan paintings, which include the collections from renowned Shanghai collector Qian Jintang and Hong Kong collector Liang Jinyu respectively. Celebrated for its thematic focus, the former collection features immaculate fan paintings by three masters of the genre, including Wu Changshuo, Zhao Zhiqian and Ren Yi. Among the works in Liang Jingyus collection, on the other hand, many were personal gifts from the artists to the collector. Calligraphies by Qian Mu, Rao Zongyi, Deng Erya and Feng Kanghou from the collection will be on offer. The appeal of these works with noble quality is likely to set off intense bidding at the auction. SALES HIGHLIGHTS Composed in fine Gongbi brush technique, Zhang Daqians Daqian The Drunken Dance (Est. HK$7 9 million / US$900,000 1.2 million) was executed in 1951, during the artists short stay in Hong Kong after returning from his temporary abode in Darjeeling, India. In early 1940s, Zhang travelled to Xining, the capital city of Qinghai province, during his painting trip in Dunhuang, where he assiduously copied the ancient wall murals inside the Dunhuang caves. During his sojourn at the Kumbum Monastery in Xining, he executed a large number of sketches, mostly based on his observations of the daily life of the local ethnic minorities. The indelible influences of this period can be seen in the current work. Rendered accurately in every detail, the costume worn by the foreign female dancer is adorned with ethnic features, from fur-lined collar to cuffs and lapel, all designed for ceremonial functions. Sporting a long braid tied with a colourful ribbon, the dancer is also bedecked with a leather headgear, pointed Tibetan boots and a sash around her waist. Zhangs depiction of the dancers appearance, from her facial expressions to hand gestures and choice of colours, points to the profound inspiration he draws from the art of the Dunhuang cave paintings, tempered with a touch of his own artistic ingenuity. Shortly upon its completion, this painting was brought overseas by its current owner until it returned to Hong Kong some years ago, looking as pristine as new. Harmony of Strings (Est. HK$1.2 1.8 million / US$150,000 230,000) is a portrait by Jiang Zhaohe for his close friend Jiang Fengzhi, one of the greatest erhu musicians of his times. In the social circle of Beijing, both Jiangs maintained a deep friendship with Jiang Hancheng, a medical photographer, and the trio was known as the Three Jiangs. Executed in 1939, Harmony of Strings was subsequently included in Paintings by Jiang Zhaohe Vol. 1, a drawing album featuring 41 paintings published by the artist himself, despite his financial lack. As the artists most representative works, they were all executed in the late 1930s, which attest to the hardship experienced by the populace in an era of war and social upheaval.

Harmony of Strings bears silent testament to the enduring friendship between the artist and Jiang Fengzhi, the musician, alongside their mutual passion for the arts and the resilience they shared during the Japanese occupation. It is a great privilege for Sothebys Hong Kong to bring such an important piece from overseas and present it at auction in its 40th Anniversary year. Another highlight of the sale is Ding Yanyongs Yanyong Crane on the Wait for Flight (Est. HK$1.6 2.2 million / US$210,000 280,000), 280,000) a monumental work of over three metres in height, one of the largest ever by the artist. It was created for the XVI Annual Exhibition of the Nanga Society, Japan, in 1976. A gigantic paper scroll was specially arranged by the then director of the revered Nihon Syunzyuu Syogeiin to be shipped from Japan for Ding to complete the painting. Its centerpiece is an orchid tree, reaching for the heavens with its sturdy stem and entangling branches and flowers blooming in exuberance. Standing beside it is a white crane, which stretches its neck to study a jet-black butterfly hovering around the plant with concentration. Ding Yanyong devoted himself to a lifelong pursuit for the unfettered freedom to exercise his artistic creativity. Though long confined to a shoebox dwelling, the painter was able to rise above the limitations around him to convey a magnanimous vision and optimistic attitude through his works.

Tao Lengyues Lengyue Narcissus (Est. HK$500,000 700,000 / US$64,000 90,000) comes previously from the Collection of Madame Tao Xue Changwen, the artists spouse. Like her husband, Madame Tao was nonchalant to the lure of fame and materialism but she was fervently dedicated to promoting his art. Thanks to her generosity, a number of Taos works were donated to museums around the world. Even in her nineties, she instructed her children to entrust her treasured collection of his paintings to Sothebys in the hope they would ultimately find the ownership befitting their stature. This April, Sothebys is delighted to offer this monumental painting once again in the market, providing their admirers an unprecedented glimpse into the greatness of Taos artistry, as with the final wish of his late wife. The painting was executed in 1943, with reference to the artists hand-written manuscripts. Originally, it was comprised of four paper panels that reveal a painting in full when unfolded - a very rare format in the artists oeuvre. Inspired by a narcissus motif, this work is distinguished by a dense composition, where overlapping flowers accented with lush greens are delineated in an orderly fashion. Some of these blossoms and leaves can be seen dancing to the movement of an unseen breeze. The painters meticulous Chinese ink painting techniques is complemented by the use of vivid colours to capture the magnificence of the nature.
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Completed during the second Sino-Japanese War in 1940s, its focus on the untainted, pristine beauty of narcissus evokes the artists unbending patriotism in the face of his motherlands occupation by the enemies. Lin Fengmians Fengmian The Fiery Battle of Red Cliffs (Est. HK$3 5 million / US$380,000 640,000) was created in 1984 and selected as a participating entry by the artist for the Exhibition of Lin Fengmians Works held in Taipei in 1989. Since then, it has been kept in Ms. Feng Yehs private collection and never been seen in the market. It was in his advanced years that Lin revisited the historical motif of the famous battle to produce this painting, widely deemed as one of his finest that closes an illustrious artistic career. The Fiery Battle of Red Cliffs may be akin to similarly themed works in composition and artistic approach. Marking a radical departure, though, is the artists use of opera-like masks in reference to the historical characters. Half obscured amid the fiery flames and billowing smoke, the personas are portrayed in bodiless form. Taking this semiabstract approach further, the painter emphasises the protagonists facial expressions to highlight the dramatic tensions of the story narrated. Works by 20 th Century Modern Chinese Ink Artists

Besides the masterpieces of early 20th century artists and calligraphers, the Spring auction will also present a range of highly acclaimed works by modern Chinese ink artists from the same period, such as Zhou Sicong, Jia Youfu and Liu Guosong. Among all the salient works on offer, Autumn Landscape After Du Fus Poem, Poem, a magnificent work spanning a length of nine feet, as well as Marshall Garden, Garden were specially created by Tang Zheming and Liu Yong respectively to commemorate Sothebys 40th Anniversary in Hong Kong. Exquisite Fan Leaf Paintings From the Collection of Qian Jingtang
Zhao Zhiqian (1829 - 1884) Plum Blossoms In Spring Executed in 1872 Ink and colour on paper, fan leaf, framed 18.5 x 50 cm Est. HK$500,000-700,000 / US$64,000 90,000

Calligraphy & Folding Fans from the Collection of Liang Jingyu

Qian Mu (1895(1895- 1990) Calligraphy In Kaishu Executed in 1956 Ink on paper, hanging Scroll 111.3 x 37.3 cm Est. HK$50,000-70,000 / US$6,400 9,000

Notes to Editor I) Sotheby's Hong Kong Spring Sales 2013 20 13 Calendar (The schedule is subject to change) Category The elBulliCellar sold to benefit the elBulliFoundation The Classic Cellar from a Great American Collector 11 Finest and Rarest Wines Including Wines Direct from Bodegas Vega Sicilia Fine Chinese Paintings You Are Not Alone - Yoshitomo Nara Works from the Kurokochi Collection In Transition The Didier Hirsch Collection of Contemporary Chinese Art from 1990s Contemporary Asian Art Modern and Contemporary Southeast Asian Paintings 20th Century Chinese Art Important Watches Fine Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art A Magnificent Falangcai Bowl from the Collection of Dr. Alice Cheng Water, Pine And Stone Retreat Collection, Scholarly Art III The Meiyintang Collection, Part V An Important Selection of Imperial Chinese Porcelains Magnificent Jewels and Jadeite

Auction 3 Apr 4 Apr 5 Apr

6 Apr 7 Apr 8 Apr

Hong Kong Exhibition and Auction Venue Hall 5, Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (New Wing) 1 Expo Drive, Wan Chai, Hong Kong FOR MORE NEWS FROM SOTHEBYS S OTHEBYS Visit : www.sothebys.com/en/inside/services/press/news/news.html Follow : www.twitter.com/sothebys & www.weibo.com/sothebyshongkong Join : www.facebook.com/sothebys Watch : www.youtube.com/sothebys Sothebys has been uniting collectors with world-class works of art since 1744. Sothebys became the first international auction house when it expanded from London to New York (1955), the first to conduct sales in Hong Kong (1973) and France (2001), and the first international fine art auction house in China (2012). Today, Sothebys presents auctions in 10 different salesrooms, including New York, London, Hong Kong and Paris, and Sothebys BIDnow program allows visitors to view all auctions live online and place bids from anywhere in the world. Sothebys offers collectors the resources of Sothebys Financial Services, the worlds only full-service art financing company, as well as private sale opportunities in more than 70 categories, including S|2, the gallery arm of Sotheby's Contemporary Art department, and two retail businesses, Sothebys Diamonds and Sothebys Wine. Sothebys has a global network of 90 offices in 40 countries and is the oldest company listed on the New York Stock Exchange (BID). *Estimates do not include buyers premium and prices achieved include the hammer price plus buyers premium. Images are available upon request All catalogues are available online at www.sothebys.com or through Sothebys Catalogue iPad App