Bali painting fetches top price

Bali painting fetches top price

SINGAPORE: A painting by artist Walter Spies, a German
artist known for his dreamlike depiction of rural life in Bali,
took the top price at a Southeast Asian art auction in Singapore
on Sunday.

Spies' 1934 work "A View from Above" sold for S$1.88 million
(US$1.06 million), said Carolyn Ortega, a publicist for
international auction house Christie's.

Despite worries overshadowing Southeast Asia due to the global
economic downturn and terrorist attacks on the United States, art
lovers from around the region flocked to Singapore over the
weekend for the Christie's auction.

London-based auction house Christie's was "extremely pleased"
with the Singapore auction, "especially with the strong support
from Indonesian collectors," Ortega said. -- AP