When you see Liang-lin Chen commanding the podium, switching effortlessly between English and Mandarin during auctions on stage at Christie’s Hong Kong, it is hard to believe that the dynamic auctioneer, dressed in her signature qipao, describes herself as an introvert.
“Normally, I’m not as bubbly as a person,” she says. “I’m friendly, but otherwise I’m sometimes occupied with thoughts. So I need a bit of notice before … I just have to have a mental shift: I need to get into a role.”
Behind that charismatic presence, a lot of hard work goes into making sure that an auction is a success, and that also comes with stress. But Chen has learned how to balance things out by having a supportive social network, maintaining an active lifestyle away from work and remembering to get enough sleep. Her love for handling artefacts at work, which she finds rewarding, also keeps her going.
Chen’s appreciation of beautiful things began at a young age, and was influenced by her parents, who loved taking her to the museum. As a child, she was too young to understand the importance of the objects in front of her, but her mother would try to point out particular items and describe them to her in simple language.
“I think that sowed a seed in my brain of how I really enjoy looking at our artwork,” Chen says.
After taking a bachelor’s degree in biological sciences at the prestigious Cornell University in the United States in 2006, Chen took a gap year before pursuing a master of letters degree in arts of China at Christie’s Education in London – the only academic institution wholly owned by an auction house – which specialises in art business and the art market, art history, art world ecosystems, curating and connoisseurship.
The one-year programme paved the way for an illustrious career at the renowned auction house. She has moved from junior roles in both Hong Kong and New York to more senior positions and is now associate vice-president and specialist head of sales in the Chinese ceramics and works of art department.
Chen has been an auctioneer at Christie’s since 2016, and admits that the job can be very stressful at times. After searching for precious items available for auction, a top-quality sales catalogue has to be produced in a tight time frame. In the week before an auction, she must juggle her time between attending meetings with colleagues, taking clients on personal preview tours and, sometimes, media interviews.
“Right before an auction, there is a meeting that we need to attend,” she says. “That’s when the adrenaline really kicks in and you have to really focus. By the time you get onto the podium, you have to be as prepared as possible.”
To perform her job well, Chen says one thing is crucial: having a good sleep. She believes that success and health go hand in hand, and allowing herself enough rest ensures that she has a high energy level to face the demands at work.
“Sleep is of paramount importance because that is what resets our body in the night and prepares ourselves for the next morning,” she says. “That’s how we maintain a healthy lifestyle and how we can actually carry on with the tasks that we need to do or want to do. Even to be with our loved ones, we have to be healthy.”
During a working week, once Chen has finished all of the day’s tasks, she often likes to unwind by watching something on television. “I’ll just watch an episode of anime and [then] I’ll go to bed,” she says.
Away from work, she enjoys travelling and – unsurprisingly – visiting museums. She also tries to ensure she finds time for regular exercise.
“I try to exercise maybe three to five times a week,” she says. “It’s [normally] a combination of something more intense, like Thai [kick] boxing, or more gentle, like yoga, and maybe I’ll go hiking on the weekends when time allows, and when the weather is OK.”
Yet spending time with her friends and family is always the most important part of everything she does, she says. “I have a very good church community and that’s very essential to me – and my relationship with people, it’s very, very important,” she says.
Although Chen has become one of the most prominent woman auctioneers in the industry, she retains a balanced attitude about the success she has achieved in her career.
“Success is when you feel comfortable and confident about where you are,” she says. “It doesn’t have to be because you have a certain amount of money in your bank account, or because you are a certain someone in this world.
“Some people might not need a career, and some people find a career is very rewarding. For me, I’m definitely learning a lot and I’m meeting a lot of interesting people, and a lot of the people I’ve met during my career have become my lifelong friends. That, I’m very grateful for.”
Part of the video was filmed at the AIA Alta Wellness Haven, which offers holistic programmes by wellness brand Humansa. The facility is the first integrated and one-stop wellness destination offered by an insurer in Hong Kong, with experiences that blend Eastern and Western therapeutic philosophies. The wellness expert team helps customers achieve a balance between their mind, body and soul through diverse and personalised wellness services. The Deep Sleep Programme, for example, aims to identify sleep issues, help recipients relax and achieve an optimal restful state through breathwork and guided meditation, and quantum harmonic audio treatment with acupressure.