Whether they are works of abstract expressionism, rare artefacts or classical Chinese paintings, buyers in Asia favour prized pieces, and most it appears, are shying away from the darlings of contemporary art.

During the decade of decadence, the 1980s, art collecting reached its zenith, with cash-rich western companies snapping up multi-million dollar trophy pieces and private collectors willing to part with similarly large amounts, particularly for Impressionists. 

At a Christie’s 1980 sale, Vincent Van Gogh’s Le Jardin du Poet, Arles soared to reach double its estimate and beyond, finally selling for US$5.2 million (HK$40.3 million) to a private collector. Six years later, Manet’s La Rue Monsieur aux Paveurs became the most expensive Impressionist painting ever sold at auction when it realised US$11.6 million. In 1987, Van Gogh’s Sunflowers realised US$39.7 million, and the artist’s Irises, peaked even further at US$53.9 million.

By the time buyers heard the last thuds of the auctioneers’ gavel in December last year, quite a few names had been knocked off their perch in terms of the prices that their works commanded and in terms of turnover at auctions in world capitals. Instead, the Old Masters and giants of Modern Art – Matisse, Raphaël, Mondriaan, Giacometti and Degas – achieved multi-million dollar prices (see Top Ten Arts). 

Chinese Masters, too were sought after. According to Artprice, which analyses the global market, five Chinese Masters were in the top 10 of Old Master drawings in 2009, “ahead of Michelangelo, Leonard de Vinci and Francisco Goya who were hitherto considered unbeatable’’.

Artprice says that Qi Baishi (1864-1957) came third in the 2009 Top 10 artists list by auction revenue behind Pablo Picasso and Andy Warhol. Qi’s ranking is described as a first for a Chinese artist.

Breathe new life into the home this spring, not just with flowers and a coat of pastel pink and lilac. There is the bedroom to be decked up and the bathroom to be freshened up. Of course, there is the living room to be rearranged and ambient lighting improved. For a special occasion some day, the dining table needs to be dressed up, in addition to having grandma’s china. Light up the space with subtle, yet sophisticated lighting. Why not a chandelier? There is always candlelight for a warm, dramatic glow. As for the eat-in kitchen, revisit the countertops and cabinets and the fixtures and fittings. Make the home shine and sparkle.

Nineteen seventy five. Indira Gandhi of India had expelled a couple of foreign journalists and extended her dictatorship with emergency rule for the nth time. Romania’s Nicolae Ceauşescu was in power as was Gerald Ford, the president that Americans appointed. Ford was wrestling with the Soviet Union’s Leonid Brezhnev, who was looking increasingly like a wax figure. Reginald Kenneth Dwight, aka Elton John was hogging the pop charts and Ho Chi Minh had kicked Uncle Sam’s butt for good. And quashing all speculation, Premier Zhou Enlai came to lord over the National People’s Congress. In 1975, he was 76. He had been Premier since the republic was proclaimed.

In such an eventful year, a race car driver sparked off a fascination with the car as a canvas when he invited an artist to do a paint job on his wheels. The idea unleashed early that year gained momentum, and later, many more artists interpreted their thoughts on race cars and vehicles made for everyone by BMW.