Asian collectors embrace newer artists, contemporary art to diversify collections

Japan's Teppei Takeda and China's Sun Yitian are amongst the emerging names in Asia.

- Noreen Jazul

Younger and fresher names are gaining prominence in the art scene as Asian collectors brush past their comfort zones, shifting their gaze from Western values to a wider spectrum of artists and themes.

Francis Belin, president of Christie’s Asia Pacific, said the desire to diversify collections with works by emerging contemporary artists is amongst the motivations for their Asian buyers when purchasing art.

Auction house Phillips also observed this trend as some of the top performing lots in its Spring sales were works by younger Asian artists such as Teppei Takeda of Japan and Cui Jie, Sun Yitian, and Xia Yu of China.

Takeda’s “Painting of Painting 026” fetched US$235,528 (SG$317,721) during Phillips’ Evening Sale on 31 May, more than six times its pre-sale high estimate.

The art piece “set the second highest price for the artist at auction,” said Meiling Lee, head of Modern and Contemporary Art in Asia at Phillips.

In the same evening sale, Sun Yitian, often referred to as China’s “It” artist, achieved her second highest price with the sale of “A Tender Panther” at US$211,163 (SG$284,853).

This year, Phillips made sure to put a spotlight on younger artists. “In our Spring auctions in Hong Kong, we also offered a selection of Chinese contemporary works produced by artists born in the 1960s to 1990s, including Zhang Enli, Ding Yi, Huang Yuxing, Liu Wei, Chen Ke, Xia Yu, Cui Jie, Sun Yitian, Zhang Zipiao, and more,” Lee said.

With works of younger artists, particularly those of Asian descent, deservedly hugging the limelight, Phillips has increased their share in Hong Kong Sales.