The Ullens Center for Contemporary Art (UCCA) issued a statement Monday, clarifying rumors, reported in Monday's Global Times (Metro edition), that owner Guy Ullens is planning to "retreat from China," as some have interpreted his actions over the last two years.

The statement refers to "the recent announcement by Sotheby's Hong Kong [SHK] about the April 2011 auction of works from the Guy & Myriam Ullens Foundation Collection."

SHK plans to offer 106 pieces of works from the Ullens collection, all Chinese contemporary works dating from the 1980s and early 1990s. A famous triptych by Zhang Xiaogang and a painting of Mao Zedong by Wang Guangyi are among the lots; other works of Ullens's collection will also be sold at the Beijing Poly International Auction House during its spring sales.

The announcement once again triggered widespread speculation on Ullens' intentions; the Belgian food baron and avowed art collector sold a number of traditional Chinese paintings during the recent economic downturn and was said to have actually sold the Ullens Center to the Minsheng Art Museum last year.

The Art Newspaper, one of the world's most prestigious art publications, reported that Ullens "is to hand over the management of the art gallery and look for long-term partners," and leave his art gallery in Beijing behind and focus on collecting pieces by young artists, "with [a] focus on Indian rather than Chinese artists."

With locals and art mavens hotly debating the article, UCCA issued its own statement, quashing speculation and pointing out that the SHK sale was by the Ullens Foundation. The Foundation and UCCA "are separate organizations," UCCA said, adding that the sale should not be linked with UCCA's operation in China.

"In the coming years, UCCA will continue to develop, evolve and achieve," the statement continues. "UCCA remains committed to bringing the public high-quality exhibitions of Chinese and global contemporary art, promoting contemporary cultural understanding, and serving as a bridge between China and the world."