Who is Shawn Yue?
Shawn Yue Man-lok, born on November 13, 1981, is a multi-talented individual hailing from Hong Kong. Initially known for his modeling career, he later transitioned into the world of acting and singing. His impressive filmography includes notable works like "Jiang Hu," "Infernal Affairs II," the "Love in the Buff" film series, "Mad World," and "The Brink." Over the years, he has become a well-known and familiar presence in the realm of Hong Kong cinema.
The very first NFT sale in Asia by Christie’s
Hong Kong - Following the initial announcement of the "No Time Like Present" online auction (scheduled for September 17-28, 2021), which featured the first NFT sale in Asia offered by an international auction house, Christie's was thrilled to have received a diverse collection of NFT minted art, physical artworks, and exceptional watches from Mr. Shawn Yue, a renowned actor and collector in Asia. This vast assortment not only sheds light on his private collecting journey, which has remained secret until now, but also serves as a retrospective of his 20-year career and reflects his passionate pursuits in life and art.
To celebrate his 40th birthday, Shawn and his friends carefully chose highlights from their collections for this online auction. A portion of the proceeds from the sale were donated to support the Make-A-Wish Hong Kong Foundation. This charitable organization is dedicated to granting life-changing wishes to children between the ages of 3 and 17 with serious illnesses in Hong Kong and Macau, enriching their human experience with hope, strength and joy.
In addition to Shawn's beloved NFT minted artworks, including Larva Labs' CryptoPunks, Yuga Labs' Bored Ape Yacht Club (BAYC), and Larva Labs' latest creation, Meebits, the auction also featured George Condo's masterpiece, "Nun and Priest, " along with an exceptionally rare Rolex Daytona with Paul Newman "RCO" dial, wristwatch reference 6263.
Shawn Yue expressed his enthusiasm for the collaboration with Christie's, saying, "I am thrilled to partner with Christie's to share my beloved artwork and lifestyle objects with collectors and art enthusiasts around the world. This online auction not only marks the celebration of my 40th birthday, but also serves as a retrospective of my collecting journey and career spanning two decades. I look forward to the opportunity to continue to expand and evolve my collection in partnership with Christie's in the future."
Jacky Ho, vice president and head of evening sales, 20th and 21st Century Art Department, Asia Pacific, added, "We are delighted to be part of Shawn's collecting journey, showcasing the wide range of collectibles he has carefully curated over the past two years." decades. We have carefully selected highlights from his collection that span various categories, offering a vibrant reflection of his unique perspective on life and art. The high quality of these lots, similar to those in our evening sales, underscores our dedication to offering exceptional works at our online auction platform. This platform provides a more accessible channel for both new and experienced collectors to enhance their collections and marks a new chapter for Christie's online auctions. We are honored to partner with Shawn to introduce NFTs to the Asian auction market and to stimulate further discussion and progress in the modern CryptoArt movement."
Shawn Yue Raises Over S$21.2mil
Famous Hong Kong actor Shawn Yue, 39, successfully raised more than HK$121.6 million (equivalent to S$21.2 million) in the "No Time Like Present" auction.
The auction included a total of 32 lots, comprising a wide range of items. This eclectic selection included 14 NFTs, six luxury watches, various accessories, and even an iconic NASA chair.
For those unfamiliar with the term NFT, it represents a non-fungible token that serves as a unique digital certificate verifying ownership of the associated artwork. Possession of the NFT confers the status of owner of the original artwork itself.
Of this vast collection, the highest price was achieved by a CryptoPunk NFT, which fetched the impressive sum of HK$33.85 million (about S$5.9 million).
The CryptoPunk series, consisting of 10,000 distinct avatars of 24x24 pixel art with an 8-bit aesthetic, is widely regarded as one of the pioneering NFT projects. It was introduced in 2017, and individual NFTs in this series have reportedly reached multimillion-dollar valuations. Not surprisingly, collectors often compare the series to the "Rolex of NFTs."
A Tour of Shawn Yue's Studio
After spending nearly two decades in the entertainment industry, Hong Kong actor and singer Shawn Yue has embraced a new role as a content creator, launching his own YouTube channel called "Inside Out."
In the channel's inaugural episode, Yue offers an eye-catching tour of his stylish studio located in Taipei. The studio boasts a carefully curated collection of contemporary art and modern furnishings that exude good taste.
"I have played various characters throughout my acting career over the past two decades," says Yue, speaking in Chinese during the video. "This time I want to be myself.... I've always had numerous interests that I wanted to share, whether it's fashion styling, making clothes or my other hobbies like watches and camping." Yue sees this channel as a way to embark on a new personal and professional journey.
Yue, who married former Taiwanese actress-model Sarah Wang in a discreet ceremony in Melbourne in December 2017, has been residing in Taiwan with his family since the early days of the pandemic.
The actor's studio is carefully designed to offer simplicity and ample space. It includes a bedroom on the ground floor, along with a bar area and dining room upstairs, which doubles as an informal meeting area. However, Yue jokingly admits that he is the main occupant of the studio, spending "90 percent of the time" there.
One of his studio's distinguishing features is its impressive art collection, which includes pieces by contemporary American artists such as George Condo and Futura. Yue also reveals his recent venture into NFTs as he contemplates the investment potential of these digital artworks in the video.
Selena Mattei