Asia Art Weekly News Bulletin – ISSUE 32 Week of 15 September 2025
(1) Rare imperial Yuan buddhist sculpture could sell for US$2.5m at Christie’s inaugural Hong Kong sale
Christie’s launches an Asia Pacific department for Indian, Himalayan, and Southeast Asian art, debuting with a 40-lot Hong Kong auction featuring rare Yuan dynasty and Tibetan works in November 2025.
(2) Seoul Art Week draws big crowds and headline sales despite market downturn
Frieze Seoul and Kiaf attracted over 150,000 visitors, while sales included a Mark Bradford triptych for a Frieze record of US$4.5 million
(3) M+ to unveil trailblazing women artists’ environments on Sat, featuring new commissions
M+ unveils Dream Rooms on September 20, showcasing twelve immersive installations by women artists, including three new Asian commissions, with interactive works and opening-day talks highlighting sensory, transformative art.
(4) China Guardian Hong Kong 2025 Autumn Auction | An Art Extravaganza Transcending Time, Presenting Over 2,000 Art Treasures
China Guardian Hong Kong 2025 Autumn Auction, October 3–8, features over 2,000 art treasures, blending ancient and modern works, with highlights in paintings, sculptures, jewelry, and lifestyle collectibles.
(1) Rare imperial Yuan buddhist sculpture could sell for US$2.5m at Christie’s inaugural Hong Kong sale
(Photo Credit: Christie’s Hong Kong)
Christie’s is launching a dedicated Asia Pacific department for Indian, Himalayan, and Southeast Asian art in November 2025, capitalizing on growing interest from regional and global collectors. Led by Edward Wilkinson, appointed Global Head in 2025 with nearly 30 years of experience from Sotheby’s and Bonhams, the department will debut with a 40-lot auction on November 3 during Hong Kong Asian Art Week. This initiative reflects Christie’s strategic focus on a niche yet expanding market, with plans for dedicated sales in Hong Kong and London in 2025 and expanded offerings in Paris and New York in 2026.
The auction’s centerpiece is a gilt-bronze Avalokiteshvara figure from the late 13th to early 14th century, a rare Yuan dynasty Buddhist sculpture estimated at HK$20–30 million (US$2.5–3.8 million). Crafted under Nepalese artist Aniko in Khubilai Khan’s court, it blends Himalayan and Chinese artistic traditions, featuring inlaid turquoise and lapis lazuli and a provenance from the Pan-Asian Collection. This work exemplifies the cultural synthesis of the Mongol Empire, with its robust physique and delicate robe patterns marking a departure from earlier Chinese Buddhist art.
Additional highlights include a 12th–13th-century gilt copper alloy Manjushri figure, estimated at HK$16–20 million, tied to Tibet’s Shalu Monastery, and a rare thangka of Parinirvana by the Tenth Karmapa, Chöying Dorje, the only surviving piece from a series on the Buddha’s twelve deeds. These artifacts underscore the auction’s significance, offering collectors and scholars access to exceptional Yuan-era and Tibetan works, reinforcing Christie’s commitment to elevating this specialised art category.
News Source: https://en.thevalue.com/articles/christies-hk-inaugural-regional-indian-himalayan-southeast-asian-art-sale
(2) Seoul Art Week draws big crowds and headline sales despite market downturn
(Photo Credit: SCMP)
Seoul Art Week 2025, marked by the concurrent Frieze Seoul and Kiaf art fairs, solidified the South Korean capital’s status as a vibrant global art hub despite a contracting market. Frieze Seoul, in its fourth year, hosted 121 exhibitors from 28 countries, attracting over 70,000 visitors from 48 nations, including representatives from major institutions like MoMA and Hong Kong’s M+. Kiaf, organized by the Korea Galleries Association, featured 175 galleries from over 20 countries, drawing 82,000 visitors. Both fairs showcased Seoul’s growing influence, with strong participation from galleries like Hauser & Wirth and local leaders Kukje Gallery, though 40 galleries, including Karma, did not return, offset by 24 debutants like Hong Kong’s De Sarthe.
Notable sales underscored the fairs’ commercial success despite cautious collector sentiment. Frieze Seoul saw Mark Bradford’s triptych Okay, then I apologise (2025) sell for US$4.5 million, a record for the fair, while Kiaf reported strong sales of works by Park Seo-bo, Ugo Rondinone, and Barbara Kruger. However, galleries like De Sarthe and Galerie du Monde noted slower sales, with interest often not translating into purchases, reflecting a selective market. The Focus Asia section at Frieze and Kiaf’s 30% international exhibitor share highlighted emerging regional talent, particularly from Southeast Asia, fostering institutional connections and reinforcing Seoul’s role as a gateway for new voices.
Seoul’s cultural infrastructure bolstered the fairs, with major exhibitions at institutions like the Amorepacific Museum of Art and MMCA showcasing artists like Mark Bradford and Kim Tschang-yeul. Frieze’s new permanent venue, Frieze House, supports year-round programming, signaling long-term commitment. Despite a global art market decline—Korea’s market dropped from 1 trillion won in 2022 to 350 billion won in 2024—Seoul’s robust ecosystem of collectors, museums, and government support, including Arts Council Korea’s funding, sustains its vibrancy. Frieze and Kiaf’s ongoing partnership aims to further elevate Seoul’s global art scene.
News Source: https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts/article/3325530/seoul-art-week-draws-big-crowds-and-headline-sales-despite-market-downturn?module=top_story&pgtype=section
(3) M+ to unveil trailblazing women artists’ environments on Sat, featuring new commissions
(Photo Credit: M+, Hong Kong)
M+ in Hong Kong will launch Dream Rooms: Environments by Women Artists 1950s–Now on September 20, 2025, showcasing twelve immersive installations by trailblazing women artists from Asia, Europe, and the Americas. The exhibition, previously presented at Haus der Kunst München in 2023, features nine historical environments, such as Laura Grisi’s Vento di Sud-Est, which uses a gust of air to evoke nature, and Lea Lublin’s Penetración / Expulsión, a transparent tunnel symbolizing ovulation and pregnancy. These multisensory works invite active audience participation, engaging with materials, sounds, and themes like human reproduction and urban life.
Three new commissions by Asian women artists debut at M+. Pinaree Sanpitak’s The House Is Crumbling (2017/2025) features thousands of Thai khid pillows, encouraging visitors to reshape the space, reflecting the impact of small actions. Chiharu Shiota’s Infinite Memory uses red threads and dresses to evoke female experiences, while Kimsooja’s To Breathe transforms M+’s architecture with iridescent film on windows, creating a dynamic light landscape. These works highlight innovative, interactive approaches to installation art, emphasizing personal and cultural narratives.
The exhibition’s opening day includes two talks: one with co-curators Andrea Lissoni and Marina Pugliese, and another with the three commissioned artists, fostering dialogue about the works.
News Source: https://www.thestandard.com.hk/hong-kong-news/article/311931/
(4) China Guardian Hong Kong 2025 Autumn Auction | An Art Extravaganza Transcending Time, Presenting Over 2,000 Art Treasures
(Photo Credit: China Guardian Hong Kong)
The China Guardian Hong Kong 2025 Autumn Auction, held from October 3 to 8 at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, presents over 2,000 art treasures across six categories, themed “Bridging Past and Present, Connecting East and West.” The Chinese Paintings and Calligraphy section, with over 550 works, is a highlight, featuring Fu Baoshi’s rare Longzhong Dialogue, donated proceeds to charity, and a 20-meter collaborative scroll by masters like Qi Baishi. Ancient works include Shen Zhou’s masterpiece, alongside specialized collections like Qian Zhongshu’s letters and Pu Ru’s art, emphasizing cultural and historical significance.
The Asian 20th Century and Contemporary Art section showcases 16 masters, with Zao Wou-Ki’s 1983 27.01.83 and Li Zhen’s monumental sculpture leading the lineup, blending Eastern and Western influences. Ceramics and Works of Art offers over 1,000 items, while Scholarly Objects and Classical Furniture includes Chu bronzes and rare Huanghuali pieces. The Jewellery and Watches category features 170 gemstones and a debut handbag sale with Hermès rarities. Lifestyle Collectibles presents aged teas, liquors, and Cuban products, appealing to diverse collectors.
This auction, complemented by a fashion handbag exhibition, “Blooming,” underscores China Guardian’s role in fostering a global art dialogue. By integrating ancient and contemporary works, alongside innovative collectibles, the event caters to collectors seeking both heritage and modernity. The inclusion of charitable initiatives and rare artifacts positions the auction as a cultural milestone, reinforcing Hong Kong’s status as an art hub bridging East and West.
News Source: https://www.stheadline.com/culture/3500707/
