Hong Kong – Bonhams achieved another strong result for Japanese artist Tetsuya Ishida, with General Manager's Chair in an Abandoned Building selling for HK$7,624,000 at Bonhams Modern and Contemporary Art sale. Following last year's record-breaking sale of Ishida's The Men on a Belt Conveyor at Bonhams, today's result marks the third-highest price for a work by the artist at auction.

Marcello Kwan, Bonhams' Head of Modern and Contemporary Art, Asia, commented: "We are delighted with this result for Tetsuya Ishida. His profound insight into society and the struggles of modern life continues to resonate deeply with audiences today, making his works more relevant than ever. It has been a privilege to bring another exceptional Ishida painting to auction, and we're proud to have played a part in sharing his powerful vision with collectors globally."

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.

OTHER NOTABLE RESULTS:

• Hsiao Chin, La Cometa – 5, sold for HK$2,036,000, doubling its low estimate (HK$1,000,000 – 2,000,000)

• Ju Ming, Taichi Series - Single Whip & Taichi Series (Two Works), sold for HK$1,909,000 (Estimate: HK$1,300,000 – 2,300,000)

• Sanyu, Woman in Red Sweater, sold for HK$1,655,000, 2.7 times its low estimate (Estimate: HK$600,000 – 900,000)

• Zhang Xiaogang, Bloodline Series No. 4, sold for HK$1,274,000, nearly doubling its low estimate (Estimate: HK$650,000 – 850,000)

(Press Release)