Chinese News Hurun Report, which is now 10 years old annually publishes a list of top richest people of the country, recently issued a first list of 50 living Chinese artists, whose works have become the most expensive on the basis of sales by public auction in 2008. The first line in the «hit parade» took Syaogan Zhang (Zhang Xiaogang), Mintszyun Yue (Yue Minjun) and Zeng Fanchzhi (Zeng Fanzhi). Their names are not the first time fall into the ratings of contemporary authors of the most expensive works. In 2007, Zhang and Yue Syaogan Mintszyun able to fight (and very successfully) for seats in the top five in the list of Guardian not only with their compatriots, but also with such «pillars» contemporary art market, like Gerhard Richter (Gerhard Richter), Damien Hurst (Damien Hirst), Jeff Koons (Jeff Koons).

Over the past year, works by Zhang Syaogana, famous for its Chinese mrachnovatymi «family portraits» in shades of gray, brought at auction 44,1 million dollars, and his creations «fun» Colleagues Yue Mintszyuna, usually showing a smiling and laughing characters - 30.5 million dollars. Quite a bit behind him Zeng Fanchzhi, earned 30.1 million. He is the author of the most expensive works of Chinese contemporary art - diptychs «From the series" Mask. " 1996. № 6 », for which Hong Kong at the Christie's auction in May last year, the buyer has paid 9.7 million (including buyer's premium). In general, the work of 50 authors included in the list of Hurun Report, brought 410 million dollars, while the average age of the artists included in the rating is around 57 and a half years.

Usually works under the Chinese contemporary art refers to works created in the period from 1960 to present. They often reflect the thinking and commentary on the Cultural Revolution of 1966-1976, harden the soul of a generation of Chinese.

According to the Hurun Report, last year's demand for works of Chinese contemporary art has increased slightly. Perhaps this is partly due to increased interest from Chinese collectors, not just foreigners. As for the auction price in this category, in the first half, they went up, and then, beginning in September, there was a recession. For example, at the November auction at Christie's Hong Kong canvas Zeng Fanchzhi «From the masses to the masses» so and did not find a buyer . According to the forecasts of the London company ArtTactic, published in February, with the next half year prices on the works of Chinese contemporary art is likely to have declined slightly.

material produced Catherine Onuchin

Sources: bloomberg.com , hurun.net , artinvestment.ru