Ravenel 2015 Autumn Auction Taipei “Modern and Contemporary Asian Art” closed on December 6. The auction received support from experienced collectors and new collectors, showing Ravenel’s wide outreach in the art industry that has attracted many potential buyers. Despite the slight recession in the industry, the auction was once again a success: total results reached close to US$10 million, which was 85% sold by value, bringing the auction to a successful close.

After four high bids—including absentee bids and telephone bids—the price realized for the magnificent golden painting “24.09.99” by Zao Wou-Ki reached US$2 million. “Composition No. 535,” a 1973 work by Chu Teh-Chun, another member of Académie des Beaux-Arts, was knocked down for US$550,796. “Central Park,” a rare piece of work by Yun Gee, an artist who studied in the US, was sold for US$275,398. Walasse Ting’s “Kiss Me under Moonlight,” featuring a beautiful blue lady on a black background, was also sold for US$275,398. Dubbed “Father of Modern Ink” Liu Kuo-sung’s large quadriptych “Universe in My Mind-2” achieved US$616,585. 

The first lot, Walasse Ting’s small work on paper, “Cat,” went through 22 bids and was knocked down for US$11,750, which was a great opening that livened up the auction. Many lots were sold after many rounds of bidding. The small ink-wash sketch by Sanyu “Nude” was sold after 18 bids, for US$40,392; clearly, small, exquisite works won collectors’ hearts. Another hotly-bid lot was “Yang-min Mountains” by Taiwanese contemporary artist Yeh Tzu-chi. After rounds of telephone and live bids, it was sold for US$ 477,356, reaching the artist’s world record sale. Yeh’s other works were also very popular and all of them found buyers. Po-Ren Huang, another Taiwanese contemporary artist, also attained his individual record with US$ 34,884 sales price for his large bronze sculpture “Go!”. “Scapes,” from Zeng Fanzhi’s Grass Series, a giant in Chinese contemporary art, sold for US$ 660,955. Ravenel always presents premium works from the contemporary art circles of Taiwan and China. 

For popular contemporary Japanese art, Yaoyi Kusama’s painting, “Pumpkin,” was sold for US$249,694, which was twice the valuation price. Her “Pumpkin” sculpture was sold for US$168,911, also better than valuation price, and her watercolor “Flower” was sold after intense competition. Yoshitomo Nara, another contemporary Japanese artist, also had all of his works sold.

 “In the midst of a recession, Ravenel Taipei Auction still managed to sell lots at hammer prices exceeding the artists’ individual sales records. In addition to the support of the collectors, the success was also due to Ravenel’s hard work in the industry over the years. We hope that after the recession, we can serve more collectors and find excellent pieces for all art lovers,” said Ms. Flora Fu, President of Ravenel, Taipei.