Kuwait Times fetes 38young artists WEDNESDAY, APRIL 8, 2015 A photo shows Ghanaian artist El Anatsui’s art work entitled ‘Earth’s Skin’ on display at the Chaumont-sur-Loire Castle. The Chaumont-sur-Loire chateau, famous for its International Garden Festival, exhibits at its Centre of Arts and Nature from April 4 to November 1, 2015 the works of three twenty Ghanaian artist El Anatsui, Brazilian artist Tunga and Mexican artist Gabriel Orozco. — AFP Monet sees star rise again at New York auctions il paintings by impressionist master where they will be on view through May 1. Claude Monet are expected to be stars Auctioneers Christie’s, meanwhile, Oof the spring auction season in New announced Monday it would sell a Monet York, where Sotheby’s believes they could work-”Le parlement, soleil couchant”-for an fetch as much as $110 million. One of the expected $35-45 million on May 11 in New paintings is part of the famous “NymphÈas” York. The record for a single Monet was set in (Water Lilies) series the French artist painted June 2008 when Christie’s in London sold “Le at Giverny. Forecast to sell for an estimated bassin des NymphÈas” for $80.1 million. “The $30-45 million, this work has been held by a six works by Monet that we are privileged to collector since 1955, and has not been seen in present this May represent exactly what buy- public since 1945. ers are seeking at this moment: several of his The six Monet works have been in private most famous scenes, emerging from presti- collections; they are expected to generate a gious private collections and completely lot of enthusiasm on the auction block at fresh to the market,” said Simon Shaw at evening sales. The other works are “Le Palais Sotheby’s. Ducal” painted in 1908 in Venice; it is expect- “We’re undeniably witnessing an excep- ed to fetch $15-20 million; “Bassin aux tional moment for great works by Monet at nymphÈas, les rosiers” from $18-25 million; Sotheby’s. As new generations and new mar- and “Le Chemin d’Epinay, effet de neige” kets rediscover the master, the supply of (1875). It is expected to sell for $6-8 million. strong examples remaining in private hands In addition, “La Seine ‡ VÈtheuil” (1901), is is shrinking fast. The result is fierce competi- expected to bring in $6-8 million; it has been tion that leads to the results we have wit- in private hands since 1955 and has not been nessed recently at Sotheby’s.”—AFP sold at auction. And “Au Val Saint-Nicolas prËs Dieppe, matin” (1897), could fetch $3-4 mil- lion, the auction house said. These six works This combination of images released by Sotheby’s in New York shows a group of six paintings by Claude Monet. Paintings, clockwise from upper left: by the impressionist will be shown in London Nympheas, La Seine Vetheuil, Bassin aux nympheas; les rosiers; Au Val Saint-Nicolas pres Dieppe, matin; Le Palais Ducal; and Le Chemin d’epinay, effet April 10-14, before returning to New York de neige. — AFP Huge Swatch collection fetches Chinese tycoon Liu snaps US$6 million in Hong Kong up ancient vase for $15 million ne of the biggest private collections of Swatch watches artists were designing for Swatch, so he began collecting the in the world sold for more than US$6 million in Hong watches and related artwork. “Swatch is universal,” he said hinese tycoon Liu Yiqian splashed in yesterday’s auction at which he was would go to Liu’s Long Museum in Kong yesterday, smashing pre-auction estimates. The ahead of the auction. “You can have one for every day of the out nearly HK$114 million ($14.71 bidding by telephone, said Nicolas Chow, Shanghai. The 20-centimetre-tall (eight- O million) on an ancient vase at auc- Sotheby’s international head of Chinese inch) vase is part of a rare collection “superlot” comprising over 5,800 watches-featuring limited week. I often wear one.” Sotheby’s head of watches, Sharon C editions by artists including Keith Haring and a James Bond Chan, said that “serious luxury watch collectors” were also fans tion in Hong Kong yesterday-his latest ceramics and works of art. Chow said the crafted for the imperial court. At the 40th anniversary collection-was snared for over four times its of Swatch. Dunkel’s daughter and grandson accompanied him expensive purchase of a rare artefact unexpectedly high price indicated a same auction yesterday, a Qing emper- estimated sale price after intense bidding. A packed Sotheby’s to the auction. He also has a son and granddaughter. It is they originally from the mainland. The simple buoyant market and strong demand for or’s seal crafted from white jade was sold sales room saw three rivals tussle for the collection, which was who would benefit from the windfall, he said. octagonal piece, an 800-year-old Chinese antiques. for $13.5 million-nearly three times the finally sold for HK$46.7 million (US$6 million) to a phone bid- Southern Song Dynasty work tinted a “We are absolutely thrilled with the pre-auction estimate-to an undisclosed der. It had been expected to fetch US$1.3 million. The bidder milky blue, broke the guide price of $7.7 price for the vase,” he told reporters. “To buyer, Sotheby’s said. — AFP was identified by Sotheby’s as a “European institution” but the million at the sale by Sotheby’s. say it is a masterpiece would be an auction house said they could give no further details. Retired Taxi-driver-turned-financier Liu-chair- understatement.” Chow said the piece Luxembourg insurance broker Paul Dunkel, 68, who amassed man of investment company Sunline the watches over more than two decades, was tearful as he left Group-is one of China’s wealthiest men the sales room. He said the feverish interest in his labor of love and among the country’s new class of as it went on display leading up to the auction had been over- super-rich scouring the globe for art- whelming-crowned by a result beyond expectations. works. The 51 year-old broke the world “In the last two months... everybody’s been very interested auction record for Chinese porcelain in (in the collection) and that is my heart, my work,” an emotional April last year when he bought a Ming Dunkel told AFP. “The material result is for me not the most Dynasty wine cup-known as the “chicken important, (although) it’s very nice!” he added. An auctioneer cup”-for $36 million, which he subse- sealed the sale with an oversized transparent gavel, which was quently famously drank tea from. In November he snapped up a Tibetan created by Swatch for a charity auction in the 1990s and is part A woman looks at Swatch watches from the Dunkel col- silk tapestry for $45 million at Christie’s in of the collection. lection displayed by auction house Sothebyís in Hong Hong Kong, setting another world record Kong. — AFP Anonymous collector for any Chinese work of art sold by an Credited with breathing new life into the ailing Swiss watch “It’s for the children and the kids, to have a good life,” he international auction house. Liu, who also industry after its launch in 1983, Swatch quickly became a cul- told AFP when asked what he would do with the money. Hong owns his own museum in Shanghai, has tural phenomenon with its multi-colored plastic designs and Kong has a precedent for successful Swatch sales-in 2011 said he is on a mission to bring ancient largely affordable price tags. It is the world’s biggest watch another large collection sold for more than US$6 million to an Chinese artefacts back to the country. group although it saw net profit dive 26.6 per cent in 2014, anonymous Chinese collector at auction in the city. “I hope the “My museum and myself will partici- despite record sales. new owner continues to add to the collection, to show it,” said pate in bidding in future when we see The company attributed the profit dip to a massive invest- Dunkel. “For me, it’s too much work and it’s not possible to con- good artwork,” he said during a visit to Deputy Chairman for Sotheby’s Asia and the International Head of Chinese ment drive. Dunkel’s obsession started in the 1980s. Already a tinue.”— AFP Hong Kong last month to take up the Ceramics and Works of Art, Nicolas Chow, displays a ‘Guan’ octagonal vase from collector of abstract art, he realized that some of his favorite ownership of the 600-year-old tapestry. Liu beat seven other prospective buyers China’s Southern Song Dynasty (1127-1279 AD). — AFP.