Charles Saatchi certainly knows how to read the fine print. Despite a widely publicized partnership that he forged with Phillips de Pury & Co. last year in which he agreed to sell predominantly through the auction house, the super-collector has now stated that he will sell some of his Chinese contemporary art in China and unload a handful of other works at Christie’s in London.

A spokesperson for Saatchi defended the moves, explaining that there are no Western auction houses competing in China and that the sales at Christie’s are designed to fulfill “obligations we already had.” Martin Kippenberger’s Paris Bar Berlin (1993) will be among the works to hit the block in London.

Back in February 2008, Phillips agreed to cover the cost of admission to Saatchi’s new 50,000-square-foot gallery in west London in exchange for his auction business. At the time a spokesperson for Phillips stated, “There is an understanding he does business with us.”

Saatchi has become notorious for his busy activity in the contemporary art market, prolifically buying and selling work. He angered many in the 1980s by selling off numerous works by emerging artists such as Sandro Chia. Some members of the art world argue that he depressed prices and damaged careers by flooding the market.

In a recent interview Saatchi stated, "I buy art that I like.... [I]f I feel like it, I sell it and buy more art. As I have been doing this for 30 years, I think most people in the art world get the idea by now."