Just one month after Chen Yifei, China's prominent
artist-entrepreneur, died, his masterpiece "Sunny Days" was
auctioned off for 4.4 million yuan (about US$530,000), compared to
the US$162,000 another of his works fetched while he was alive.
"Zhou Zhuang," another piece that brought him fame, was sold at
the phenomenal price of 1.98 million yuan (about US$240,000) at the
same auction in Beijing, which ended on May 15. The auction was
organized by China Jiade International Auction Co. Ltd.
Gao Yuan, manager of the auctioneer's oil painting section, said
that the result of the auction was an expression of people's
"affirmation" and "deep love" for the late artist and his work.
Chen, who died of gastric hemorrhage in Shanghai on April 10,
was known at home and abroad for his harmonious combination of
traditional and modern techniques in oil painting, fashion design
and advertising.
Recognized as one of the most famous oil painters in the
country, his works were among the earliest of their kind to be
exhibited and sold in Western countries.
Chen held several exhibitions in Washington, New York and Tokyo.
His landscape paintings featuring the geography south of the
Yangtze River are collectors' items.
(Xinhua News Agency May 18, 2005)