Hurun Research Institute launched the Hurun Art List 2013, a ranking of the top 100 Chinese artists alive today based on the sales of their works at public auction over the past year.
The launch was held at the Hotel Éclat Beijing. Artron, China's largest compiler of art statistics provided the data for the sixth year running. The list includes artists from Mainland China, Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan.
- Oil painter Zhou Chunya tops the Hurun Art List with sales of his artworks at public auction last year hitting US$ 75m.
- Fellow oil painter Zeng Fanzhi came in at second, followed by Chinese ink painter Fan Zeng taking third place.
- Zhu Dequn's 1987 piece "White Forest" was the most expensive work sold at auction for US$ 7.8 million.
- 4th place artist Zhao Wuji still remains listed despite passing away in April 2013.
- More women are listed than ever before – up to six.
- 28 new faces are introduced to the list.
- 32 artists listed see an increase in sales, whilst 40 experience a fall.
- Beijing is revealed as home to the largest number of listed artists, with numbers in Guangdong rising fast.
- The average age of artists is 66, 3 years older than last year.
- Total turnover of the list falls 21%, with the threshold to make the list totaling US$ 2 million.
58 year old Zhou Chunya tops the list for the first time with a turnover at public auction of US$ 75 million. Zhou is also the youngest artist ever to top the list. 49 year old Zeng Fangzhi is up from 4th into second place and 75 year old Fan Zeng, last year's number one, falls to third.
Hurun Report Chairman and Chief Researcher Rupert Hoogewerf said (
below), "The Hurun Art List provides a starting point for the Chinese would-be art collector, who has been focused up to this point on earning money rather than spending it."
It is noted that readers of the list should be aware that the sales figures include transaction costs such as auction house commissions, and that sales figures do not include private sales due to their unreliability. 2013 is the second year the list has been expanded to 100 artists.
Top Five ArtistsZhou ChunyaOil painter Zhou, 58 is this year's leading artist with US$75 million in sales at auction. The value of Zhou's work has more than doubled from last year where he ranked 8th. Zhou has maintained a ranking in the Top 10 of each Art List since 2008, and has seen his sales at auction shoot up dramatically over the past few years.
Zeng FanzhiOil painter Zeng, 49, is ranked 2nd on the list with US$ 73 million in sales and is the youngest artist in the Top 30 on the Art List. Zeng has also remained in the Top 10 of the Art List since 2008 and has seen the value of his work increase by 96% in three years.
Fan ZengChinese ink painter and calligrapher, Fan Zeng is third on the Hurun Art List 2013 with US$ 69 million in sales at public auction. Zeng, who took top spot last year has seen the value of his work at auction this year fall by half, but has still managed to make the top three.
Zhao Wuji92-year-old oil painter Zhao Wuji ranked 4th place with a turnover of US$67 million. The value of Zhao's work fell 30% last year. During the formulation of this list, Zhao passed away on 9 April 2013.
Zhu Dequn93-year-old oil painter Zhu Dequn's work sold for US$58 million according to the Hurun Art List 2013. The value of Zhu's work has increased 127% since last year.
Overview of the list
Total turnover of the top 100 living artists' work was US$ 1.2 billion, falling by 21% compared to last year. The threshold for artists making the top 100 fell 11% from last year to US$ 2.4 million. The average age of artists is 66, three years older than last year.
The youngest is 37 year-old Chinese ink painter and calligrapher Ren Zhong, whose work ranked 51st with US$ 7 million in sales. Five of the artists listed are over the age of 90, the oldest being 95 year old Chinese ink painter and calligrapherRao Zongyi who ranked three places lower in 54th with US$ 5.9 million. There are 28 new artists added to the list this year.
The list also includes six female artists, more than any previous year, including 91 year-old Chen Peiqiu who has an annual turnover of US$ 22.4 and is ranked 11th. There are three new female painters added to the list, Lou Zhenggang (ranked 77th), Jiang Meiyan (ranked 74th) and Qi Liangzhi (ranked 63rd).
Zhu Dequn's 1987 piece "White Forest" was the most expensive work sold at auction last year in Christie's Hong Kong for US$ 7.8 million.
China Passion Investments White Paper 2013 Jointly Published by the Industrial Bank and Hurun Report April 2013 - more than 60% of Chinese HNWIs invest in artDespite a fall in popularity among Chinese entrepreneurs collecting watches, it still remains the most popular collectible followed by automobiles and luxury properties. Although enthusiasm for art collection is on the rise with ancient calligraphy and oil painting continuing to be popular, interest for contemporary art is falling. 64% of HNWIs invest in art, with 78% declaring a future intention to collect art.
About Hurun Report Inc.Nobody Knows China's Rich Better!Established as a research unit in 1999 by British accountant Rupert Hoogewerf, Hurun Report Inc. has grown into a leading luxury publishing group based in Shanghai, China. Hurun Report Inc. includes four luxury magazines, the Hurun Research Institute and an active business events division targeting China's entrepreneurs and high net worth individuals. The flagship Hurun Report magazine is published monthly and reaches the households of 112,000 proven wealthy Chinese individuals and their advisers. Hurun Report is best known for its annual Hurun China Rich List, widely considered the bible of wealth and an acknowledged who's who of Chinese business.This is an English language summary of the full Chinese press release which can be found at www.hurun.net. For media enquiries please contact our public relations team whose contact details can be found below.For media inquiries, please contact:Porsha PanSenior Communications Manager, Hurun ReportTel: 021 - 5010 5808*601, Mobile: 139 1838 7446Email: porsha.pan@hurun.net 
