SPECIAL COLLECTION: THE VOYEUR 

In the realm of art, the visual supersedes all of the other senses. In addition, the more something is forbidden, the more we want to see it: this is basic human instinct. Art is the natural expression of our passions. It is unavoidable that during the creative process such intimately entangled topics as eroticism, violence and the grotesque surface. This is the jectification of the Freudian id — to lend form and colour to the desire for instant gratification. The concept behind “The Voyeur” is to examine our irrepressible gaze when faced with erotic, violent and grotesque content in art, and our reluctant yet pleasurable excitement and ambivalent fetishism. Through these carefully selected works, we can see how  roticism,  violence and the grotesque have become common themes in contemporary Asian art. We will go further into revealing and deconstructing the power imbued in the art works that are primitive yet highly intellectual. Sotheby’s has collected art works centered around these subjects including fascinating pieces by Nobuyoshi Araki, Park Jung Hyuk and Zhou Chunya, among others. This is an opportunity not to be missed.

Legendary Japanese photography master Nobuyoshi Araki’s (b. 1940) Erotos (Est. HK$100,000-150,000 / US$12,900-19,300) beautifully exemplifies the delicate notes of eroticism. The term “Erotos” derives from an exquisitely designed catalogue of the same title that was published in 1993. Conceived by Araki, the word “Erotos” has its etymological origins in the two Latin nouns “Eros” and “Thanatos”, meaning “desire” and “death” respectively. Unlike his other series, Erotos contains inanimate objects couched in the neglected recesses of an everyday setting; Araki unveils the latent eroticism lurking in the most mundane and unlikely of details. A moist pair of lips slightly ajar dominates the frame — presented vertically, the image is now suddenly charged with a raw, unexpected energy. The female body remains the target of Araki’s fascination and exploration and his images never fail to reveal intimations of sex that are powerful and compelling.

Takato Yamamoto’s (b. 1960) Twin Roses (Est. HK$100,000-150,000 / US$12,900-19,300)

Another highlight is Takato Yamamoto’s (b. 1960) Twin Roses (Est. HK$100,000-150,000 / US$12,900-19,300). By absorbing concepts behind the Japanese Ukiyo-e tradition — the art of the “floating world” — into what he calls “Heisei (contemporary Japan) Aestheticism”, Yamamoto establishes his unique way of capturing fleeting beauty and poignancy. Twin Roses is a combined expression of the concepts of transience, grotesque and eroticism. The twisted flesh and ligaments evoke a dream-like atmosphere and the intricacy of Yamamoto’s painterly technique amplifies the erotically-charged, yet ephemeral nature of his work. The artist sees outer appearance of the body as an entity just as sensual as its inner cavities, in all its exquisite goriness and convoluted splendor. Richly layered flowers punctuate the composition at every turn, enhancingits delicate femininity. Yamamoto’s works are filled with his private iconography and influences. The stillness seen in the faces of his figures appears to have a calming meditative quality. The perfect symmetry and detailed rendition of muscles and ligaments lend an almost hypnotic power to the composition, eliciting fanciful imagination and allowing the viewer to see one’s inner desires.

 Park Jung Hyuk’s (b. 1974) Park’s Park 3 (Est. HK$200,000 - 300,000 / US$25,800-38,700)

Among the outstanding works on offer is Park Jung Hyuk’s (b. 1974) Park’s Park 3 (Est. HK$200,000 - 300,000 / US$25,800-38,700) from 2005. Park valiantly goes against the minimalist mainstream of Korean contemporary art, mixing elements from different media, defining our insatiable consumerist world through orgiastic portraits, revealing the unquenchable urges of man, which is a true reflection of the mindset of contemporary society. Desire in its many salivating permutations pervades the entire canvas as an appetite for sex is juxtaposed against a hunger for food. Among the cascading layers of copulating bodies, a gilt religious icon leaning against a blow-up doll anchors the sexual frenzy all around, a humorous cursor toward the capitalist existence. To the left, a neoclassical statue of a Greek philosopher embraces a colour-pencil sketch of a post-atomic mushroom cloud – proof of his adeptness in juxtaposing various media and, perhaps, Park’s vision of the inevitable outcome of excessive consumerism.

Zhou Chunya 's(b. 1955) Blooming Lover (Est. HK$1.8-2.5 million / US$232,000-320,000)

Of the Chinese artists represented in this collection is Zhou Chunya (b. 1955), whose Peach Blossom Series demonstrates emotions and sensations of an overtly sexual nature, as seen in Blooming Lover (Est. HK$1.8-2.5 million / US$232,000-320,000). One of China’s most celebrated contemporary artists, Zhou Chunya amalgamates traditional Chinese painting with the sense of freedom native to German Neo-Expressionism. In Asian folk traditions, the peach blossom is believed to contain magical powers. In Zhou’s painting, they are highly symbolic, inducing flights of fancy. Peach blossoms bloom in spring, where the lush landscape gives way to eroticism and sensuality, conveying the primitive desire of human beings. Placed subtly into the idyllic landscape, the human figures in vivid hues of pink further intensify the emotions. The entire canvas  uggests harmony and balance between man and nature. Zhou describes it best: “Vivid colours and emotions evoke primal and bold fantasies. Amidst the captivating beauty of the setting, the true nature of man is liberated in a gentle release of fiery passion.”

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