THE Chinese art auction market is thriving, according to an industry insider’s report. Beijing and Hong Kong are China’s established leaders in art auctions, market research by the Art Market Monitor of Artron (AMMA) Center has revealed.

    The number of Chinese art works on auction overseas is small, but three pieces were auctioned at over 100 million yuan (US$15.5m) in spring this year.

    The area surrounding Beijing and Tianjin dominated the auction of Chinese paintings and calligraphic works. There were more than 130,000 works on auction in spring 2011 in the area, of which nearly 75,000 were sold. That figure was 22,969 more than that of the spring auction of 2010 yet 3,322 less than that of the fall auction last year.

    The auctioned Chinese art works in spring occupied 67.95 percent of total market share in China, 6.85 percent up from the 2010 fall auction.

    The total volume of the Chinese art auction in the area reached 29.1 billion yuan in the past spring, making it the most prolific area in China.

    Of all 15 Chinese art works that scooped more than 100 million yuan in the early half of this year, nine were auctioned in Beijing and its surrounding area. Of the 100 pieces of the most pricey Chinese art works on auction, 68 were sold in this area.

    More than half of Chinese paintings and calligraphic works auctioned in China were from this area, scooping a total of 18.67 billion yuan, 72.59 percent of the total market.

    With established auction houses like Sotheby’s and Christie’s, Hong Kong is the third art auction market in the world after London and New York.

    The auction of Chinese art works has been on the rise in recent years. Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan are traditionally strong in the auction of oil paintings and contemporary works by Chinese artists. A total of 1,587 pieces were auctioned in the area in spring, generating business of 1.8 billion yuan, half of the total Chinese market volume.

    Of the oil paintings and contemporary art works that make the 100 most expensive Chinese art work list, five were auctioned there. “Five Nudes” by Chang Yu was auctioned at HK$128 million (US$16.5m) in Hong Kong, becoming the first pricey contemporary oil painting by a Chinese artist.

    The Yangtze River Delta area is another important stronghold in the auction of Chinese art works.

    Headed by Xiling Auction House, businesses in the area focus not only on Chinese paintings and calligraphy, oil paintings and contemporary art works, but antiques and porcelain as well.

    The auctioned pieces in the area rose by one-fourth compared with last year to reach nearly 20,000 pieces. In all, the auctioned pieces scooped 4 billion yuan, more than double that of last year.

    Meanwhile, in the Pearl River Delta, Guangzhou Guardian Auctions is the leader in the field. With a total auction volume of 981 million yuan in the spring auction, the area comprised a rather small share.(Li Dan)