After Sotheby’s auction on contemporary art in London ended on June 29, 2021, an important piece of news was announced: Sotheby’s will soon present a modern art auction in October with the well known director Wong Kar-wai! He is the first Chinese director to win Best Director of the Cannes Film Festival. His classic works include: “In the Mood for Love”, “Chungking Express”, “Days of Being Wild”, “The Grandmaster”, and so on.
Wong Kar-wai is known as a contemporary film master and has won many film awards, including the Kong Kong Film Awards, the Palme d’Or and major film awards around the world. He was also the first Hong Kong native to win the Best Director of the Cannes Film Festival. In 2006, Wong was invited to serve as the chairman of the Cannes Film Festival’s jury and became the first Hong Kong citizen to be honored. There are also other Chinese judges at the Academy Awards. Wong has gained international recognition through his unique style: the slow pace, contrast of warm and cold tones, strong montague technique, and emotional atmosphere.
At the same time, he integrates Eastern and Western cultures, but also breaks through traditional narratives, bringing readers into the story. He exquisitely reflects on the protagonist's thoughts on certain emotions, allowing the audience to hang on after viewing his movies. Wong’s movies are mostly related to love and the plot is elegant and romantic. At the same time, he has transformed many visual languages and concepts, giving him the reputation of the “Poet of Time”.
In addition to collaborating with Wong, Sotheby’s has cooperated with art collectors in various fields. On October 3, 2016, Sotheby’s also collaborated with Korea’s well-known star T.O.P and used the column “#TTOP”. In addition to being a music creator and rapper, T.O.P is also a collector and has collected a wide range of works, including works by Gerhard Richter, Rudolf Stingel, Takashi Murakami, etc., a hot topic for the auction market at the time.
In April 2019, Sotheby’s once again collaborated with NIGO, and launched “NIGOLDENEYE ® Vol. 1” Special. In June of this year, Sotheby’s collaborated with Jay Chou to combine popular entertainment and art. In addition to being a singer and musician, Jay is also a director and actor. Sotheby’s curated a cross-border event with Jay in June, with day and night auctions. The auction included works by American contemporary artist Jean-Michel Basquiat “Untitled”, Pablo Picasso’s 1969 oil painting “Buste d’homme”, and so on.
Sotheby’s hopes to expand their personal collections to a more open platform for young collectors, however, not much information has been announced, which has made many curious. What will happen when the auction meets Wong’s unique aesthetics? Let’s wait and see!
Picture 1: Director Wong Kai-wai ©️ jettonefilms
Picture 2 upper left: JAY CHOU ©️ Sotheby’s
Picture 2: bottom left: KAWS Album ©️ Sotheby’s
Picture 2: right: In the Mood for Love 20th Anniversary Edition ©️ jettonefilms
