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“When I take a photo, at that moment, I fall in love. If I keep my distance, I keep that fresh feeling.”
— Wing Shya
Over the past three decades, Wing Shya has ascended to global fame as Asia's leading fashion and commercial photographer. His glossy, vividly coloured pictures infuse their allure, enigma, and unconventional brand advertising with an emotive narrative essence.
The Epitome of Hong Kong Cool
Upon completing his studies in Canada and returning to his native Hong Kong in 1991, Wing discovered a whole world of mesmerising neon lights and shadowy interiors, eager to be recorded. His time abroad had revitalised his outlook, allowing him to see the potential of his hometown, which he had previously underestimated. This realisation took him to the belief that photography was the ideal medium for capturing Hong Kong's vibrant tapestry of intertextualities. ‘I love the extremely strong, contrasted colours of the late 80s and early 90s,’ he explains. ‘When I moved back to Hong Kong from Vancouver in 1991, I thought ‘Wow, this is so noisy!’ People talked too loud, and the colours – they were so crazy.’ i
During the 1990s, Hong Kong was the place to be. There was an energetic fusion of East and West, driven by anticipation of the 1997 handover. Cinema thrived with international martial arts stars, while Cantopop blended Chinese melodies and Western pop. Artists explored themes of identity and colonialism, and vibrant nightlife spots like Lan Kwai Fong emerged as cultural hotspots. Wing Shya would fit in easily here – his long hair and thick black lacquer glasses making him an unmistakable star in the shining cosmos of Hong Kong.
Though it would be in 1996 and a chance encounter with Wong Kar-wai – the father of Hong Kong New Wave - that would change the course of his nascent career. While only in his formative years as a director in his own right, having released the now-seminal Chunking Express two years previously, Wong always had a keen eye for young talent, giving actors like Andy Lau and Maggie Cheung their first big breaks. In Wing he found a similarly precocious talent, a kindred spirit who could compliment his own sensibilities.
Wong invited the young photographer to come as part of his crew to shoot his next picture in Buenos Aires – Happy Together.
Ground-breaking Icon — Happy Together
Detail of the present workThe film, to become a turning point in Wong’s mature stylism and temerity, was disruptive in its own right. Bold and ground-breaking, it brought the passionate story of a same-sex relationship to Hong Kong cinema. Starring the charismatic duo of Tony Leung and the late Leslie Cheung, the film daringly defied societal norms and shook up the scene with its vivid portrayal of love and heartache. This cinematic gem not only captivated audiences with its stunning visuals but also sparked crucial conversations about LGBTQ+ rights and visibility. A true trailblazer, Happy Together played an essential role in pushing the boundaries of cinema and opening doors for more diverse and inclusive representation in the industry.
However, Wing was decidedly autonomous within the clear direction of the film. Once in Argentina, he was given little instruction as to when and what he was to shoot. Instead of standing next to the camera to record already what was being filmed, he was to capture something more essential, expressionistic – the feeling of the movie. Wing explained as such: ‘I learned from Wong Kar-wai. I see how he directs and I try to capture what he’s trying to say. He always taught me to do one picture that can tell the story of the whole movie, so I’ve always tried to capture this one moment with the actors … The actors and actresses barely see me when I take these pictures on set. They’re not focused on me. I’m like a ghost, everywhere but nowhere, which makes it easier because they’re not looking at me.’ ii
Showing up to set without a soundproof box for his camera, Wing would have to adapt and move quickly, shooting only during the briefs between takes. Though these ephemeral moments would offer ‘different chemistry’ between the lead actors: ‘It feels like something is going to happen, but you don’t know what’s happening.’ iii
Detail of the present workIt is this temperament between fiction and reality that makes the stills of the present work so bewitching. They capture three important moments in the film: Talk at Bar Sur, where Po Wing (Cheung) and Fai (Leung) share cigarettes outside of Bar Sur; Prologue, the couple sharing a quiet moment of intimacy after Po Wing is beaten up; and Two to Tango, before Fai leaves Argentina to return to Hong Kong. The sequence of photos provides a touching snapshot into the toxic relationship between the two men, alleviating the pain of their incompatibility and rendering the poignancy of their doomed love.
“I don’t try to create my own style. But somehow, with the colours and the imagery, some people do recognise it and say this is very “you”. But it’s not something I try to do.”
— Wing ShyaWhile Happy Together would go on to become hugely successful, critically and commercially – even being nominated for the 'Palme d’Or' at the 1997 Cannes Film Festival, where Wong would also win best director – these photos are themselves true works of art. They establish Wing Shya as a powerful creative with a measured touch as he repurposes the beauty of the director’s narrative and the artistry of cinematographer Christopher Doyle into a loaded keyhole, one granting an immersive panorama for a forbidden world.
Detail of the present workCollector’s Digest
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Born in Hong Kong 1964. Wing Shya's work encompasses the realms of film, art and fashion. After graduating from Emily Carr Institute in Canada, Wing Shya returned to Hong Kong and founded the award-winning design studio, Shya-La-La Workshop.
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He has also directed several feature films of his own, starting with 2010’s Hot Summer Days, while he has worked as a fashion photographer for publications including Time and Vogue, and for brands including Louis Vuitton, Maison Martin Margiela, A Bathing Ape, Rolex and L’Oréal.
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In 2006, he became the first non-Japanese photographer to exhibit at the Mori Art Museum in Tokyo. In 2007, he was selected to exhibit in Fashion 07, curated by Marion de Beaupré at Art Basel Miami, and in October the same year, he had a solo exhibition, Jealousy, at Xintiandi, Shanghai. Shya also took part in China Design Now in 2008, which was exhibited at V&A Museum. In recent years, he has exhibited with Louise Alexander Gallery (Italy), +81 Gallery (Tokyo and New York) and Ooibotos Gallery (Hong Kong).
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His 2020 exhibition Happy Together at Hong Kong’s Blue Lotus Gallery was so popular that the gallery had to hire security guards – a rare measure taken in the city.
i Wing Shya quoted in Isabel O’Toole, ‘How Wing Shya immortalised Hong Kong’s cool’, The Independent Photographer, 17 January 2023, online
ii Wing Shya quoted in Jing Zhang, ‘Hong Kong Legend Wing Shya on Photography and Asian Cinema’, Prestige, 24 November 2021, online
iii Wing Shya quoted in Stephy Chung, ‘Photographer Wing Shya on how 'mistakes' led to his meteoric rise’, CNN Style, 8 November 2017, online
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Provenance
Acquired directly from the artist by the present owner
302
Three works: Happy Together Stills (i) The Talk at Bar Sur; (ii) Prologue 2; (iii) Two to Tango
signed 'wing shya' on a label affixed to the reverse
fine art pigment print
each sheet 60 x 80 cm. (23 5/8 x 31 1/2 in.)
Executed in 1997, each work is number 1 from an edition of 8 plus 1 artist proof.
Estimate
HK$80,000 - 120,000
€9,300-14,000
$10,300-15,400
Sold for HK$165,100
Anastasia Salnikoff
Head of Mid-Season Sales
+852 2318 2014
anastasiasalnikoff@phillips.com
Thomas Perazzi
Head of Watches, Asia
+852 2318 2001
WatchesHK@phillips.com
Disruptors: Evening Sale of 20th Century & Contemporary Art, Design and Watches
Hong Kong Auction 25 May 2023
301
Anna Park
Nude
Estimate HK$500,000 - 700,000
Sold for HK$698,500
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302
Wing Shya
Three works: Happy Together Stills (i) The Talk at Bar Sur; (ii) Prologue 2; (iii) Two to Tango
Estimate HK$80,000 - 120,000
Sold for HK$165,100
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303
Rolex
Ref. 6536/1
Model: Submariner
An impressive, attractive and rare stainless steel diver’s wristwatch with center seconds, black lacquered dial and braceletEstimate HK$240,000 - 480,000
Sold for HK$508,000
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304
Patek Philippe
Ref. 5207P-001
An exceptionally fine and rare platinum perpetual calendar minute repeating tourbillon wristwatch with small seconds, moon phases, leap year, day and night indication, additional solid caseback, setting pin, Certificate of Origin and presentation boxEstimate HK$4,000,000 - 6,000,000
Sold for HK$4,826,000
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305
Cartier
Ref. 2774
Model: Crash
A rare, possibly unique and exquisite white gold and diamond-set asymmetrical wristwatch with Certificate of Origin and presentation boxEstimate HK$500,000 - 1,000,000
Sold for HK$990,600
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306
Audemars Piguet
Ref. 14802ST
Model: Royal Oak Jubilee
An extremely attractive and rare limited edition stainless steel wristwatch with salmon dial, date, bracelet, certificate and presentation box, numbered 622 of a limited edition of 1,000 pieces, made in commemoration of the 20th Anniversary of the Royal OakEstimate HK$600,000 - 1,200,000
Sold for HK$952,500
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307
Fernando Campana and Humberto Campana
'Bolotas' armchair
Estimate HK$120,000 - 180,000
Sold for HK$165,100
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308
Mr.
Misaki
Estimate HK$2,000,000 - 3,000,000
Sold for HK$3,302,000
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309
This lot is no longer available.
310
Yayoi Kusama
I Who Sing in Celebration of Humanity
Estimate HK$7,500,000 - 9,500,000
Sold for HK$8,509,000
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311
André Butzer
Untitled
Estimate HK$700,000 - 900,000
Sold for HK$889,000
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312
Charlotte Perriand and Pierre Jeanneret
Bookshelf with cabinets, model no. 14, from 'L’Équipement de la Maison' series
Estimate HK$150,000 - 200,000
Sold for HK$304,800
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313
Cartier
Ref. WGTA0044
Model: Tank Asymétrique
A rare, fine and attractive limited edition yellow gold asymmetrical wristwatch with certificate and presentation box, numbered 89 of a limited edition of 100 piecesEstimate HK$200,000 - 400,000
Sold for HK$241,300
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314
Rolex
Ref. 6241
Model: Cosmograph Daytona
An extremely rare and attractive yellow gold chronograph wristwatch with champagne dialEstimate HK$940,000 - 1,500,000
Sold for HK$1,092,200
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315
Cartier
Ref. WGTA0088
Model: Tank Chinoise
A rare, "like-new" and elegant limited edition yellow gold rectangular-shaped wristwatch with warranty and presentation box, numbered 83 of a limited edition of 150 piecesEstimate HK$100,000 - 250,000
Sold for HK$165,100
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316
This lot is no longer available.
317
KAWS
COMPANION
Estimate HK$4,000,000 - 6,000,000
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318
Andy Warhol
Figures on a Busy Street
Estimate HK$450,000 - 650,000
Sold for HK$444,500
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319
Nicolas Party
Trees
Estimate HK$10,000,000 - 15,000,000
Sold for HK$12,550,000
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320
David Hockney
The Arrival of Spring in Woldgate, East Yorkshire in 2011 (twenty eleven) - 4 May
Estimate HK$680,000 - 850,000
Sold for HK$1,079,500
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321
Takashi Murakami & Virgil Abloh
"FLOWER"
Estimate HK$1,000,000 - 2,000,000
Sold for HK$2,921,000
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322
Anish Kapoor
Non Object (Mirror)
Estimate HK$3,800,000 - 4,800,000
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323
Gio Ponti
Coffee table
Estimate HK$120,000 - 180,000
Sold for HK$152,400
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324
Gio Ponti
Pair of armchairs, model no. 247, from the 'Modern by Singer' series
Estimate HK$100,000 - 150,000
Sold for HK$114,300
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325
Angel Otero
Bayamón
Estimate HK$700,000 - 1,000,000
Sold for HK$1,079,500
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326
Stanley Whitney
Stay Song 27
Estimate HK$1,800,000 - 2,800,000
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327
Rafa Macarrón
343 Almas
Estimate HK$800,000 - 1,200,000
Sold for HK$1,016,000
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328
Vacheron Constantin
Ref. 44018
Model: 222
A very elegant and attractive yellow gold wristwatch with date and integrated braceletEstimate HK$250,000 - 500,000
Sold for HK$508,000
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329
Audemars Piguet
Ref. 25654BA.OO.0944BA.01
Model: Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar
An extremely fine, rare and well-preserved yellow gold perpetual calendar wristwatch with MK I dial, moon phases and integrated braceletEstimate HK$470,000 - 940,000
Sold for HK$660,400
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330
Patek Philippe
Ref. 3940
A rare and attractive yellow gold perpetual calendar wristwatch with moon phases, leap year, 24-hour indication, Certificate of Origin and presentation boxEstimate HK$200,000 - 400,000
Sold for HK$508,000
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331
RETNA
He's A Criminal No Different From Me. One Could Argue I Could Be Painted With The Same Brush
Estimate HK$300,000 - 500,000
Sold for HK$762,000
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332
This lot is no longer available.
333
José Parlá
New Language Forms
Estimate HK$380,000 - 580,000
Sold for HK$355,600
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334
Takashi Murakami & Virgil Abloh
"ARROWS AND FLOWER"
Estimate HK$1,200,000 - 2,200,000
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335
Aya Takano
In the 30th Year of the Showa, the Day the Fire Flowers Rose
Estimate HK$500,000 - 800,000
Sold for HK$635,000
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336
Katherine Bernhardt
Six Papayas
Estimate HK$300,000 - 500,000
Sold for HK$368,300
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337
Cartier
Ref. 1734
Model: Tank Américaine
A very fine and rare limited edition platinum wristwatch with salmon dial and presentation box, numbered 16 of a limited edition of 30 pieces made for the 150th anniversary of the Swiss ConfederationEstimate HK$100,000 - 200,000
Sold for HK$165,100
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338
Patek Philippe
Ref. 5065A
Model: Aquanaut
An attractive and rare stainless steel wristwatch with center seconds, date and presentation boxEstimate HK$160,000 - 310,000
Sold for HK$330,200
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339
Franck Muller
Ref. 2870 NADF
Model: Chronographe Double Face
A rare and attractive yellow gold double-faced chronograph wristwatch with two-tone silvered dials, pulsations, telemeter and tachymeter scales, Certificate of Origin and presentation boxEstimate HK$80,000 - 160,000
Sold for HK$190,500
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340
Jean Prouvé
Sun shutter, designed for schools in Cameroon
Estimate HK$80,000 - 120,000
Sold for HK$101,600
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341
Jean Prouvé
Sun shutter, designed for schools in Cameroon
Estimate HK$80,000 - 120,000
Sold for HK$101,600
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342
Wolfgang Tillmans
paper drop (Studio) I
Estimate HK$100,000 - 150,000
Sold for HK$177,800
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343
Wolfgang Tillmans
paper drop (London) II
Estimate HK$100,000 - 150,000
Sold for HK$139,700
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344
Hiroshi Sugimoto
North Pacific Ocean, Ohkurosaki
Estimate HK$160,000 - 240,000
Sold for HK$215,900
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345
Hiroshi Sugimoto
Bay of Sagami, Atami
Estimate HK$160,000 - 240,000
Sold for HK$228,600
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346
Ron Arad
'Big Easy Volume 2' armchair
Estimate HK$200,000 - 300,000
Sold for HK$190,500
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347
Gio Ponti
'Diamond' flatware service for 24
Estimate HK$190,000 - 280,000
Sold for HK$254,000
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348
Vacheron Constantin
Ref. 49152/000A-9540
Model: Overseas Chronograph
A fine and rare stainless steel chronograph wristwatch with date, guarantee and presentation box, numbered 91 of a limited edition of 100 pieces made for the Greek marketEstimate HK$120,000 - 200,000
Sold for HK$165,100
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349
Rolex
Ref. 16520
Model: Cosmograph Daytona
A very fine and well-preserved stainless steel chronograph wristwatch with bracelet, guarantee and presentation boxEstimate HK$180,000 - 280,000
Sold for HK$254,000
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350
Audemars Piguet
Ref. 26300ST.OO.1110ST.08
Model: Royal Oak Chronograph
A fine and attractive stainless steel chronograph wristwatch with date, bracelet, Certificate of Authentication and presentation boxEstimate HK$160,000 - 320,000
Sold for HK$304,800
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351
Rolex
Ref. 1680
Model: Submariner, “Red Sub”, MK II
A rare and attractive stainless steel diver’s wristwatch with center seconds, date, MK II dial, bracelet and presentation boxEstimate HK$120,000 - 300,000
Sold for HK$190,500
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352
After Jean-Michel Basquiat
Flexible
Estimate HK$450,000 - 650,000
Sold for HK$533,400
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353
Kenny Scharf
Unique Surfboard
Estimate HK$450,000 - 650,000
Sold for HK$406,400
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354
Poul Kjærholm
'Hammock' lounge chair, model no. PK 24
Estimate HK$90,000 - 120,000
Sold for HK$114,300
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355
Urwerk
Ref. UR-105M
Model: Dark Knight
A fine, rare and unusual limited edition titanium wristwatch with three-dimensional satellite hour display, power reserve, warranty and presentation box, numbered 10 of a limited edition of 77 piecesEstimate HK$180,000 - 280,000
Sold for HK$304,800
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356No Reserve
Rolex
Ref. 126000
Model: Oyster Perpetual 36
A attractive stainless steel wristwatch with center seconds, “Tiffany” blue lacquer dial, bracelet, guarantee and presentation boxEstimate HK$60,000 - 120,000 •
Sold for HK$203,200
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357No Reserve
Alain Silberstein
Ref. TMA1-002
Model: Tourbillon Volant
A very rare and unusual limited edition stainless steel semi-skeletonised tourbillon wristwatch with date, numbered 1 of a limited edition of 9 piecesEstimate HK$80,000 - 160,000 •
Sold for HK$139,700
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358
KAWS and Estudio Campana
KAWS: MONSTER Chair
Estimate HK$400,000 - 600,000
Sold for HK$381,000
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359
KAWS
UNTITLED
Estimate HK$500,000 - 700,000
Sold for HK$419,100
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360
Hans J. Wegner
'Valet' chair, model no. 540
Estimate HK$40,000 - 60,000
Sold for HK$133,350
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361
Arne Jacobsen
'Egg' chair model no. 3316 and later ottoman, model no. 3127
Estimate HK$30,000 - 50,000
Sold for HK$35,560
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362
Yoshitomo Nara
Hand Searching
Estimate HK$400,000 - 600,000
Sold for HK$584,200
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