Looking for value in China's contemporary art market

Beijing

THE serenity of Cui Ruzhuo's ink landscapes is a far cry from the turmoil of China's contemporary art market. But he can bank on his own status as the country's best-selling living artist.

Cui's works reflect traditional Chinese forms and subjects, replete with largely monochrome mountains, lakes and trees.

Little known in the West, his works fetched a total of more than US$120 million at public auctions last year, up 69 per cent, even as the overall market plummeted, according to wealth publisher the Hurun Report's newly released China art list.

"When an artist is creating, a very important point is to…