Hong Kong - A piece of graffiti by Hong Kong's self-proclaimed "King of Kowloon" has sold for a record 500,000 Hong Kong dollars (65,000 US dollars), auction house Sotheby's confirmed Wednesday. The piece by the late Tsang Tsou-choi,featuring rows of Chinese calligraphy on canvas, attracted fierce bidding in Sotheby's Asian art auction Tuesday.
It finally went to an unknown telephone bidder for more than seven times its predicted sale amount of 70,000 Hong Kong dollars.
The amount was more than double that of the previous record for one of Tsang's pieces, sold in spring for 212,500 Hong Kong dollars.
Tsang died in 2007 aged 86. He was known throughout Hong Kong for his distinctive style of calligraphy graffiti which he painted on lampposts, buildings and walls.
He claimed his ancestors owned most of the Kowloon area of Hong Kong and would include the title "King of Kowloon" in his work.
He began painting at the age of 35 and his work, though often painted over, became a recognized feature of Hong Kong streets, inspiring many artists and designers.
He spent his later years in a nursing home where he continued painting in the same style on canvas, paper and household items.
The work sold at auction Tuesday was put up for sale by a friend of Tsang who said the popularity of the piece and the price it had bought showed the demand for Tsang's work.
Earlier this year, Hong Kong government was criticized for not living up to a promise to preserve Tsang's street calligraphy.
