By South China Morning Post | Created at 2024-09-30 02:37:30 | Updated at 2024-09-30 05:21:26
4 hours ago
One of the world’s largest auction houses, Christie’s, held its inaugural sales at its new Asia headquarters in The Henderson, the gleaming skyscraper in Central district designed by Zaha Hadid Architects, last week. To mark its move and expansion, the firm brought in some rarely seen masterpieces by the likes of Vincent van Gogh and Claude Monet. These weren’t just a treat for art collectors in Hong Kong; they were a feast for the eyes for everyday people like me, too.
I had the chance to see the artworks up close at the preview, and all that beauty on display was so euphoric and uplifting that my Monday blues melted away and I walked out of the space with a lighter step. No wonder art is increasingly emerging as a form of therapy.
Around the same time, another auction giant, Sotheby’s, exhibited The Giant Lotuses, a six-panel ink masterpiece by Chang Dai-chien, in Central district.
This level of public access to the arts in Hong Kong is commendable, and entirely in keeping with our standing as an arts and cultural hub. Hong Kong remains one of the world’s four leading auction capitals, alongside New York, London and Paris.
