Modern classic paintings in dialogue with designer toys at exhibition

Visitors to the “Trends of the Times: Holly’s International 2019 Art Exhibition” had the pleasure of appreciating classic paintings as well as designer toys simultaneously at the MixC World last week.

“Trends of the Times: Holly’s International 2019 Art Exhibition” was held at the MixC World last week. File photos

The exhibition, consisting of “Modern and Contemporary Art” and “The Art of Designer Toys” sessions, was a warm-up to Holly’s autumn 2019 auctions. With popular designer toys on display, it attracted a multitude of young collectors from the post-90s and post-00s generations.

The “Modern and Contemporary Art” session featured masterpieces by artists such as Wu Guanzhong and Sanyu. Among them, the most eye-catching was “Wild Vines With Flowers Like Pearls,” which is considered to be the best ink painting of Wu’s later years. Another work by Wu, “Sisters,” was also on display. An oil painting of two nude figures, it belongs to a genre the artist seldom touched upon.

“Wild Vines With Flowers Like Pearls” by Wu Guanzhong.

Other highly expected works included “Portrait of Xu Zhimo II” by Sanyu and “Red Wall: Yuanming Collecting Chrysanthemum” by Wei Guangqing, an artist from the ‘85 New Wave movement in China.

Sanyu’s painting has behind it a heartrending story. The portrait was supposed to be a gift for Xu Zhimo, but before it reached the poet, he lost his life in an air crash.

Apart from these paintings, visitors also found works of distinctive styles and features from artists such as Zhang Enli and Feng Lianghong.

If what visitors found in the modern art session was the tranquility of classic paintings, they must have enjoyed a vibe of the Nijigen world in the designer toys part. The toy session created a rich, unique experience for collectors and exhibition-goers alike, featuring multimedia art forms including toys, sculptures, skateboards and printmaking. It also displayed works not only from established, popular artists such as Jeff Koons, KAWS, Banksy, Hajime Sorayama, Yoshimoto Nara and Murakami Takashi but also from newly emerging artists.

A KAWS toy collection.

One of the artworks presented in the designer toys session was “Balloon Dog,” a ceramic plate series jointly created by Jeff Koon and high-class French ceramics brand BernArdAud. The series is based on Jeff Koon’s iconic “Balloon Dog” figure.

“Balloon Dog,” a ceramic plate series jointly created by Jeff Koon and French ceramics brand BernArdAud.

According to Fu Jialin, senior manager of the jewel and clock department at Holly’s, the designer toys session was a new addition to Holly’s spring auction this year, and the sales rate of such artworks was as unexpectedly high as 85 percent, accounting for the auction company’s vision of a promising future in designer toys.

“China’s collectors are getting younger. More collectors from the post-90s and post-00s generations are entering the market. That’s why designer toys are getting increasingly popular,” said Fu.

Holly’s pre-auction exhibitions generally take place in convention centers. This year, as the exhibition was held at the MixC, a place of popular culture, art and brands, the designer toys session was added, said Fu.

The exhibition will travel to Guangzhou next, and the artworks displayed at the exhibition will go on sale at the Holly’s international autumn auction from Dec. 28 to 29.

Today’s classics are yesterday’s pop culture. Different ages have different aesthetic views. Will the trending art forms of today transform into the classics of the future? We will most likely find the answer at the auction markets.