Lot 1264
  • 1264

WU GUANZHONG | Wing On Street - Cloth Alley

Estimate
1,000,000 - 1,500,000 HKD
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Description

  • Wu Guanzhong
  • Wing On Street - Cloth Alley
  • ink and colour on paper, framed
  • 53.3 by 47.7 cm. 21 by 18 ¾ in.
signed TU, dated 1990, titled, and inscribed

Exhibited

Hong Kong, Land Development Corporation, Hong Kong Through the Eyes of Wu Guanzhong, 1991

Literature

Hong Kong Through the Eyes of Wu Guanzhong, Land Development Corporation, Hong Kong, November 1991, pl.18
Wu Guanzhong’s Personal Selection of Paintings, The Oriental Press, Beijing, China and A & U Publication Hong Kong Ltd., 1992, p.205
Sketches by Wu Guanzhong, Guangxi Fine Arts Publishing House, March 2001, p.44
The Complete Works of Wu Guanzhong, vol. X, Hunan Fine Arts Publishing House, September 2010, p.280

Condition

-Generally in good condition.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

Catalogue Note

In November 1990, Wu Guanzhong was invited by Land Development Corporation to visit Hong Kong for a painting trip. Created during this trip, Wing On Street - Cloth Alley depicts Wing On Street of Hong Kong, which was originally an alley which connects Queen’s Road Central and Des Voeux Road Central. It gained prominence at the turn of the century for fabric shops, hence its nickname “Cloth Alley”. The alley was dismantled in the 1990s due to urban restructuring. The painting depicts a corner of the original neighborhood with clever usage of color dots and stripes, showing the hustle and bustle of the zigzagging old alley, with copious signage in English and Chinese above, epitomising the fusing of East and West characteristic of Hong Kong. Beyond the blue and white striped canopy are towering skyscrapers emerging amongst the sprawling rooftops of old buildings, bringing to life the city’s bridging of old and new.