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Singapore artist's work sells for record $3.7 million in Beijing
By Deepika Shetty
Tan Swie Hian has become the most expensive living artist in Singapore.
Last night, a frenzied five-way bid at the Poly Autumn Auction's Modern And Contemporary Chinese Art Evening Sale in Beijing saw Tan's oil and acrylic painting, When The Moon Is Orbed (140cm x 206cm), selling for 18.975 million yuan (S$3.7 million).
Within 10 minutes, the bidding amount had jumped from its initial pre-sale estimate of 10 million yuan to 12 million yuan.
"Several masters, including Vincent van Gogh, did not live to rejoice over such an experience," the 69-year-old artist, poet and writer told The Straits Times. "So the result of this auction is a rare honour. I am lucky indeed and elated at my collector's harvest."