A TOTAL of nine paintings of the late Chinese-French abstract masters Zao Wou-ki and Chu Teh-chun were sold at sky-high prices during an auction organized last week by leading French auction house Artcurial.

    Six paintings of Zao were presented during the sale, of which three canvases were sold respectively at 1,489,800 euros (US$2,025,678), 1,179,800 euros and 411,000 euros, while the three paintings of Chu were also put up for auction June 3, when one canvas named “Chemins Faciles” sold for 181,500 euros.

    According to Karim Hoss, modern and contemporary art consultant of Artcurial, most of these nine works of two Chinese artists proposed by Artcurial were sold at prices exceeding their estimates, which highlighted the dynamism of the market for these artists.

    Some 200 works of art, including paintings, sculptures, installations and prints, mainly from private collections, were presented for this Post-War & Contemporary Art sale.

    In honor of Asian artists, 12 works of lyrical abstractionists Zao and Chu are included in the auction of Artcurial. The other three works were auctioned June 5.

    Founded in 2002, Artcurial confirmed its position as a leading French auction house with an annual sale of 178.1 million euros in 2013.

    (Xinhua)