See the 10 Most Impressive Works at Art Basel Hong Kong

These are the pieces everybody will be talking about.

Frank Stella Lettre sur les sourds et muets I (1974), at Art Basel Hong Kong 2017. Photo Henri Neuendorf.

The fifth edition of Art Basel in Hong Kong started with a VIP preview at the city’s convention and exhibition center on Tuesday. With 242 participants, there was an enormous amount of art to take in. Galleries from 35 countries brought offerings from Modern to contemporary and emerging to blue chip.

Hunting down the best works, artnet News combed through the fair to bring you some of the most impressive pieces that everyone will be talking about.

Roy Lichtenstein, <em> Cosmology</em> (1978). Courtesy of Lévy Gorvy, © estate of Roy Lichtenstein/DACS 2017.

Roy Lichtenstein, Cosmology (1978). Courtesy of Lévy Gorvy, © estate of Roy Lichtenstein/DACS 2017.

1. Roy Lichtenstein, Cosmology (1978)
Gallery: LĂ©vy Gorvy, New York, London, and Geneva
Why It’s Great: This large-scale painting is loaded with art historical references to the American pop artist’s influences, including items that recall Giorgio de Chirico, Pablo Picasso, and René Magritte. By also including motifs that reference his own earlier work, Roy Lichtenstein is placing himself among these greats.
Asking Price: Under $20 million

Sigmar Polke Untitled (1982). Photo: Henri Neuendorf.

2. Sigmar Polke, Untitled (1982)
Gallery: David Zwirner, New York and London
Why It’s Great: This painting is a prime example of the artist’s work from his best period in the early 1980s. It’s a top-quality piece that hasn’t been offered for sale before.
Asking Price: Not divulged.

Christopher Wool Untitled. Photo: Henri Neuendorf.

3. Christopher Wool, Untitled (1998)
Gallery: Simon Lee, New York, London, and Hong Kong
Why It’s Great: Sourced by dealer Simon Lee from a private collector, this work is part of the artist’s sought-after “XO” series. It comes from one of the artist’s most productive periods in the late ’90s, and exemplifies his pared-down take on abstraction. Additionally, the black and white palette is popular among collectors.
Asking Price: $2.5 million

Katharina Grosse Untitled. Photo: Henri Neuendorf.

4. Katharina Grosse, Untitled (2016)
Gallery: Gagosian, New York, London, Paris, Beverly Hills, San Francisco, Rome, Athens, Geneva, and Hong Kong
Why It’s Great: An installation of seven medium-sized spray painted aluminum sculptures, the booth features Grosse’s first ever exhibition of her aluminum sculptures outside of a site-specific installation. The works are installed directly on the floor, inviting visitors to interact and engage with them.
Asking Price: Not divulged

Alexander Calder. Rouge Triomphant (Triumphant Red) (1959-1963). Photo: Henri Neuendorf.

5. Alexander Calder, Rouge Triomphant (Triumphant Red) (1959–63)
Gallery: Gagosian, New York, London, Paris, Beverly Hills, San Francisco, Rome, Athens, Geneva, and Hong Kong
Why It’s Great: This magnificent hanging sculpture is unusually large and extremely rare at such a scale. According to the gallery, only 13 works of this scale were created by Calder and 10 of them currently belong to museums. Furthermore, it comes with an illustrious provenance that includes exhibitions at the Guggenheim in Bilbao, and the Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofia, Madrid.
Asking Price: $30 million

Frank Stella Lettre sur les sourds et muets I (1974). Photo: Henri Neuendorf.

6. Frank Stella, Lettre sur les sourds et muets I (1974)
Gallery: LĂ©vy Gorvy, New York, London, and Geneva
Why It’s Great: “The work is rare at this size,” gallery partner Brett Gorvy told artnet News of this color Frank Stella. “He did very few at this scale in so many color combinations.” The work, from the artist’s mid-1970s “Diderot” series, is a culmination of Stella’s conceptual interests and the formalist style that has preoccupied him for his entire career.
Asking Price: $8.5 million

Mark Bradford Water in the Ear Puts Guards at the Gate (2017 ). Photo: © the artist. Courtesy the artist and Hauser & Wirth.

7. Mark Bradford, Water in the Ears Puts Guards at the Gates (2017)
Gallery: Hauser & Wirth, New York, Los Angeles, London, Somerset, Gstaad, and Zürich
Why It’s Great: Representing the US at the upcoming 2017 Venice Biennale, Mark Bradford’s stock is soaring, and this is a fantastic example of his unique painting style at a scale that is sure to get noticed. “We’re very happy that Mark gave us this work to show,” dealer Iwan Wirth said about the piece, with the artist standing nearby.
Asking Price: Not divulged.

Lawrence Weiner Lost in a Shuffle (2015). Photo: Henri Neuendorf.

8. Lawrence Weiner, Lost in a Shuffle (2015)
Gallery: Mai 36, ZĂĽrich
Why It’s Great: “What the collector acquires is a certificate for the concept,” a gallery representative explained to artnet News. As such, the work may be ordered from Lawrence Weiner’s studio at any dimension. The gallery said that some collectors have put Weiner’s texts on dinner tables, on the floor, or on the wall.
Asking Price: $225,000

 

Cai Guo Qiang Toroko Gorge (2009). Photo: courtesy Eslite Gallery.

9. Cai Guo Qiang, Toroko Gorge (2009)
Gallery: Eslite, Taipei
Why It’s Great: Using gunpowder to create little explosions to make marks on canvas, the artist used his unique technique to replicate a landscape in Taiwan. Set across 18 screens, the work combines typical Southeast Asian imagery with Cai Guo Qiang’s inimitable contemporary style.
Asking Price: $3.8 million

Shen Shaomin Summit (2009–10). Photo: Henri Neuendorf.

10. Shen Shaomin, Summit (2009–10)
Gallery: Osage, Hong Kong, Shanghai
Why It’s Great: Conceived as a summit of communist leaders, ultra-realistic, life-sized wax figures of Vladimir Lenin, Mao Zedong, Kim Il Sung, Ho Chi Minh, and Fidel Castro are reimagined by placing the figures in glass sarcophagi, silencing the controversial heads of state. Castro, still alive when the installation was created, is depicted on a bed. The work asks questions of the relevancy of their ideas in a contemporary context. “The whole world seems to be out of control, so it’s very timely,” dealer Agnes Lin told artnet News.
Asking Price: Not divulged.

 

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