[THE INVESTOR] K-pop sensation Big Bang’s T.O.P will curate a contemporary art auction to be held by Sotheby’s Hong Kong on Oct. 3.

“T.O.P has selected 39 artworks, worth HK$90 million (US$11.60 million), as the guest curator,” said Pattie Wong, chairwoman of Sotheby’s Asia at a press conference in Seoul on Sept. 19. His taste as a young collector shows the changes in international trends, she added.

For the special auction titled “#TTTOP”, the 28-year-old singer/actor has chosen pieces of established western artists Jean Michelle Basquiat, Andy Warhol, Keith Haring, Sigmar Polke and Gerhardt Richter. From Asia, his favored artists range from Takashi Murakami to He Xiangyu. 



 And of course, South Korean art is included: Paik Nam-june, Lee U-fan and Kim Whan-ki, who is a relative of T.O.P on his mother’s side.

The sale is the result of a yearlong collaboration between the auction house and the entertainer and reflects his “eclectic personal taste and wider vision for contemporary art as a whole,” he said adding that he has a penchant for “works that are visually eye-catching or are minimal but contains concept and philosophy.”

Sotheby’s has sold collections of celebrities such as Elton John and Eric Clapton, but this is the first time the established auction house has invited an entertainer to curate an auction.

Part of the proceeds will be donated to the Asian Cultural Council to support emerging Asian artists.

“The emergence of modern and contemporary Korean art in the international market has been eye-catching. We’ve also seen Korean clients participating in our auctions in Hong Kong, London and New York,” Wong said.

“It is a privilege to be working with T.O.P this October, bringing in an exciting sale to the Korean market and to a wider audience.”

By Hwang You-mee (glamazon@heraldcorp.com)