PRESS RELEASE | HONG KONG | 14 OCTOBER 2015 | FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

T’ang Haywen

WORKS FROM THE 1960S TO 1970S

At Christie’s Hong Kong from 13 October to 3 November

Hong Kong - From 13 October to 3 November 2015, an important selling exhibition dedicated to French-Chinese artist T’ang Haywen (1927-1991), will take place at Christie’s Hong Kong. Providing a comprehensive overview of T’ang Haywen’s mature work, the show will feature a selection of more than 40 paintings created during the crucial years of his artistic production: the 1960’s and 1970’s.

Joyce Chan, Senior Specialist, commented: “Through this special solo exhibition dedicated to T’ang Haywen we aim to highlight the importance of his work as well as the role he played in the history of Chinese modern art. In the mid-20^th century, T’ang crossed the traditional boundaries of ink painting and explored the full potential of this medium, elevating it to the status of a universal language. In fact he significantly contributed to the promotion of Chinese modern ink painting in both the European and the American art scene. T’ang took ink painting as a mode of free expression and his work is a constant source of inspiration as it expresses feelings of joy, freedom, playfulness, elegance, kindness, serenity, melancholy, meaninglessness, and satisfaction that make up the precious human experience”.

From Europe to the Americas and Asia, T’ang Haywen’s works are appreciated globally. Throughout the years, many of his paintings have entered the collections of prominent international museums, including the Musée d'Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris, the Art Institute of Chicago and the M+ Museum in Hong Kong.

Born in Xiamen, China, in 1927 and raised in Saigon, Vietnam, from the age of ten T’ang Haywen received education in a French school while his grandfather taught him the art of ink painting and calligraphy.

Arrived in Paris in 1948, just a few months before French-Chinese artist Zao Wou-Ki (1920-2013), T’ang took drawing lessons and frequented museums and galleries to study the art from the past, while travelling extensively across Europe.

T'ang produced a series of at least six paintings inspired by famous historical works of art. Four of these paintings will be part of the present exhibition: Homage to Balthus, Homage to Cézanne, Homage to Hokusai, and Homage to Monet (illustrated above left). This work also exemplifies T’ang’s emblematic diptych format which he obtained by combining two sheets of Kyro brand paper sized 70x50 cm.

While sharing the traditional Asian aesthetics based on the concepts of simplicity and elegance, T'ang Haywen’s work can be seen as a modern reinterpretation such historic heritage. Free brushstrokes, circles and curves are the elements employed by T’ang to share his inner universe with the external world (examples illustrated on page 1).

T'ang's paintings are suffused with mystery and profound meaning but also express the essence of Chinese philosophy, where heaven and man are one, nature and man come together, and heart and mind are fused (an example illustrated above right).

A tireless researcher, in 1973 T’ang Haywen created T’ang Boogie an experimental movie shot together with Tom Tam in Paris. With a 16 mm camera that can shoots 24 frames per second, single paintings were photographed consecutively resulting in a stop-motion animation film. Amongst the works shot in T'ang Boogie is the painting illustrated left (details of portions of the film illustrated on page 3).

An avid philosopher, T'ang Haywen had a profound understanding of Daoist thought and later in his life became a follower of Catholicism. His works are an exploration of his subconscious mind and reflect his understanding of life.

Notes to Editors:

T’ANG HAYWEN: Works from the 1960s to the 1970s

Private Selling Exhibition

13 October - 3 November 2015

The James Christie Room

22^nd Floor, Alexandra House, 18 Chater Road, Central, Hong Kong

• 42 paintings on view (31 available for private sale / 11 on loan).

Downloads:

• High-resolution images are available here.
• E-catalogue is available here.
• Click here to watch the short film T’ang Boogie.

PRESS CONTACT: Anita Handayani | +852 2978 6719| ahandayani@christies.com

About Christie’s

Christie’s, the world's leading art business, had global auction and private sales in the first half of 2015 that totalled £2.9 billion / $4.5 billion. In 2014, Christie’s had global auction and private sales that totalled £5.1 billion/$8.4 billion, making it the highest annual total in Christie’s history. Christie’s is a name and place that speaks of extraordinary art, unparalleled service and expertise, as well as international glamour. Founded in 1766 by James Christie, Christie's has since conducted the greatest and most celebrated auctions through the centuries providing a popular showcase for the unique and the beautiful. Christie’s offers around 450 auctions annually in over 80 categories, including all areas of fine and decorative arts, jewellery, photographs, collectibles, wine, and more. Prices range from $200 to over $100 million. Christie's also has a long and successful history conducting private sales for its clients in all categories, with emphasis on Post-War & Contemporary, Impressionist & Modern, Old Masters and Jewellery.

Christie’s has a global presence with 54 offices in 32 countries and 12 salerooms around the world including in London, New York, Paris, Geneva, Milan, Amsterdam, Dubai, Zürich, Hong Kong, Shanghai, and Mumbai. More recently, Christie’s has led the market with expanded initiatives in growth markets such as Russia, China, India and the United Arab Emirates, with successful sales and exhibitions in Beijing, Mumbai and Dubai.

*Estimates do not include buyer’s premium.  Sales totals are hammer price plus buyer’s premium and do not reflect costs, third-party financing fees or application of buyer’s or seller’s credits.

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