Australian auction market to benefit from international art collection

One of Britain’s most significant collectors has entrusted Australian auction house Mossgreen to auction his international contemporary art collection from 6.30pm Sunday September 17 at 926-930 High Street, Armadale. 

Although highly likely to attract interest from international collectors, the sale entitled A Contemporary Vision also will give Australian art lovers the rare chance to see first hand some of the more significant names in international contemporary art.

According to Mossgreen chief executive officer Paul Sumner, the works of these artists have only been seen until now Australia through institutional surveys and contemporary art biennales.

“In many cases, this is the first time their work has been commercially available in Australia,” he said.

A good example is Jitish Kallat, whose work is known academically to Australian audiences through exhibitions at the Museum of Contemporary Art Sydney and The Sherman Foundation Sydney.

“This is the first time Australian collectors have had the opportunity to acquire locally a work (Collidonthus, 2007) by this great artist,” Sumner said.

The auction contains a strong section of contemporary Indian art. One of its great names is Subodh Gupta, who last year held a solo exhibition at the National Gallery of Victoria, and two of whose works including the key evocative piece There is Always Cinema (IV), 2008 feature in the sale. 

Chinese contemporary art is another major attraction with Zeng Fanzhi’s impasto work Sky No 7, 2005 a stunning highlight and great example of his signature ‘Sky’ series.

Celebrated Chinese artist Fang Lijun has two exceptional paintings in the auction and, according to Paul Sumner, need to be viewed in person to truly appreciate their subtlety and beauty.

The mesmerizing installation Auto-immolation, 2010 by iconic British artist Matt Collishaw is a standout within the European section in an auction, which also features many European and American artists being exhibited and sold for the first time in Australia.