Culture > Art |
Artcurial
November 20, 2015 / by Selena Li
The inaugural Artcurial auction in Hong Kong raised an impressive HK$63 million over two days, with a rare Tintin drawing by Hergé selling for 1.1 million euros. Isabelle Bresset of Artcurial shares the French auction house’s vision in the region.
Which lots surprised you the most during the two-day inaugural sale in Hong Kong?
European works of art and comics did extremely well, in many cases surpassing the estimates. Just to take one example, all the works by Bernard Buffet, one of the most famous and prolific French painters of the mid-20th century, realised very strong prices. The sale brought in more than €7 million, which is exactly what we expected.
You mentioned in a previous interview that “every auction is an adventure”. Can you tell us about the excitement and the risk you face in today’s auction market?
To bring European works of art to Hong Kong was a parti pris – a conscious decision, as I wanted to recreate the atmosphere of a Parisian interior that mixes works of art, furniture and paintings. Of course, it was risky, as collectors in Hong Kong are not used to this type of sale.
Most auctions in Hong Kong include Chinese ceramics and porcelain, Asian contemporary art, contemporary ink, jewellery, watches and wine. So we were different. And of course, a first sale is always exciting – but also very scary.
What were the criteria of the selection? Was there special consideration for Asian collectors?
The sale was a tailor-made selection. It’s exactly like when you prepare a meal for your friends. You try to figure out what kind of food they like, but you also try to surprise them with special dishes with new flavours you hope they will enjoy.
Read More
Bernard Buffet (1928–1999); Le Cri (1970); Oil on canvas; signed and dated lower right
The 18th-century gold boxes and the jewel-like agate and gold clock by James Cox included in the sale were created by the most renowned craftsmen of that time. Since Asian collectors are very active in Paris for these kinds of works, we felt it was important to bring this rare and exquisite collection here to Hong Kong. Artcurial has been a pioneer in developing comics as an art field. Last year, we sold an original ink by Hergé for the record price of €2.5 million to an Asian collector.
How many auctions has Artcurial held in 2015 and what percentage have been dedicated to Asian clients?
From January up to now, Artcurial have organised 46 auctions; we have another 50 planned before the end of the year – more than two sales a week in 2015! Our auctions are open to the public and there are no specific auctions organised for Asian, European or American collectors. Nevertheless, we hold Asian art sales twice a year, in which bidders from Asia account for more than 80% of the buyers.
Hergé (Georges Remi) (1907–1983); The Blue Lotus (1936); India ink and white gouache on paper
Hong Kong has long been the gateway for international auction houses to access China. Li Jiayi has joined Artcurial as your Beijing representative. What will the dynamics be between the two cities – and their roles in Artcurial’s China strategy?
Li Jiayi joined Artcurial to facilitate the access to Artcurial for some Asian clients. With this first Hong Kong auction, we’re now raising our profile in the region. Artcurial has opened several representative offices abroad – Milan, Brussels, Vienna, Munich, Tel Aviv – but our auctions are only held in Paris, Monaco and Hong Kong. We don't plan to organise sales in Beijing and Hong Kong will remain our regional hub.
What can you tell us about Hong Kong’s secondary market today?
The Hong Kong art market is more mature now. Since 2011, when sales reached a peak, the market has become more predictable. It’s reflecting the general trends worldwide, even if demand is more focused on Asian art than anywhere else.
As a French auction house, what’s the Parisian spirit of Artcurial?
Artcurial is selling in traditional art fields such as paintings by the old masters, 18th-century furniture, impressionist and modern art, and contemporary art. It also has been successful in lifestyle sectors: wine, vintage motorcars, jewellery, Hermès bags. The Parisian twist comes from our imposing mansion – located on the Champs-Élysées – and the spirit of our team.
