Hong Kong—A rare and profound painting, General Manager's Chair in an Abandoned Building (1996), by Japanese contemporary artist Tetsuya Ishida will headline Bonhams Hong Kong Modern & Contemporary Art Sale on 25 May. Estimated at HK$5,000,000 – 8,000,000, the work comes to auction following Bonhams' record-breaking sale of Ishida's The Men on a Belt Conveyor for HK$10 million last December. One of only 217 remaining works from his brief decade-long career, this work offers collectors an unparalleled opportunity to acquire a masterpiece by one of Japan's most celebrated contemporary artists.

Marcello Kwan, Bonhams' Head of Modern and Contemporary Art, Asia, commented: "I am honoured to present another powerful work by Tetsuya Ishida following our recent auction record. His art delves into the weight of the crushing pressures and struggles of modern society—heavy and dark— yet it also reminds us to never stop seeking brightness in life. Ishida's works resonate deeply with me, as though I am part of the world he creates, and I hope collectors will also feel the power of this rare and exceptional work."

Born in 1973, Tetsuya Ishida (1973-2005) was known for his poignant exploration of alienation and existential anxieties in the modern world. Through distorted imagery and surreal techniques, he often symbolised individuals as machines, components, or consumer goods, portraying the struggles and despair of a generation grappling with Japan's economic downturn in the 1990s. Themes of workplace stress, loneliness, and the dehumanizing effects of mechanized modern life became central to his art.

General Manager's Chair in an Abandoned Building depicts a surreal and absurd scene of a manager transformed into a human chair, satirizing workplace hierarchy and the alienation of individuals. Dressed in a neat suit and fused with a metal frame, the manager's numb expression symbolizes the insignificance and powerlessness of individuals trapped within rigid social structures. The vacant building and aged chair in the background amplify the desolation, while the manager embodies both the oppressed and the oppressor, reflecting the complex dynamics of "fearing superiors and bullying subordinates." Through this surreal critique, the painting captures the disillusionment following the collapse of Japan's economic bubble.

With only 217 works, Ishida's art is both rare and invaluable. It was only after his untimely passing that Ishida's art began to gain significant public attention. Initially recognised in Japan, it has since achieved international acclaim, with exhibitions at the 2015 Venice Biennale and a 2019 retrospective at the Museo Reina Sofía in Madrid.

The sale also features works by sought-after contemporary Japanese artists, including:

• Miwa Komatsu, Many World Crossings in Area 21 (2023), Estimate: HK$650,000 – 900,000
• Tomokazu Matsuyama, Watervoices and You (2022), Estimate: HK$700,000 – 900,000
• Mayuka Yamamoto, Flying Owl (2023), Estimate: HK$380,000 – 550,000

Additional highlights include:

• Hsiao Chin, La Cometa – 5 (2002), Estimate: HK$1,000,000 – 2,000,000 (above right)
• Ju Ming, Taichi Series - Single Whip & Taichi Series (Two Works) (1991 & 1992), Estimate: HK$1,300,000 – 2,300,000 (above left)
• Li Chen, On Cloud Mountains (2003), Estimate: HK$950,000 – 1,200,000
• Sanyu, Woman in Red Sweater (Circa 1920-1930), Estimate: HK$600,000 – 900,000
• George Condo, Standing Nude in the Night with Bubbles (1999), Estimate: HK$2,500,000 – 3,500,000

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