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Christie's Asia+ woos new collectors

THE world's biggest auction house, Christie's, is recognising the thirst for contemporary art among young collectors with not-so-deep pockets. So it has created a new platform called "Asia+/First Open" offering works by established artists at lower price estimates. The auction will take place next month in Hong Kong. The lots will mostly comprise editioned works, paper works or small- or medium-sized paintings and sculptures by blue-chip names such as Yayoi Kusama, Wu Guanzhong, Liu Ye, Zao Wou-ki, Yoshitomo Nara and Kazuo Shiraga.

Instead of being priced in the high six or …