SAINT-GERMAIN IS FAMOUS FOR ITS CONTEMPORARY ART —
BUT WATCH OUT
The late Pierre Brissot, critic for L'Œuil, said,
"The great merchants of the past promoted art in which they believed, and might make fortunes while influencing art history.
But that's rare today, because ignorant investors skew the market."
In Oliver Stone's Wall Street a decorator bedecks a trader's apartment with a fake crumbling wall and a painting that is gratuitously macabre
"In that degraded context," Monsieur Brissot continued,
many merchants are there for money only:
They choose artists for easy sales, for their connections,
make them finance part of the show or simply rent their walls."
- A gallery thought worthy of respect takes a commission on sales, usually 50%, and asks nothing more of the artist: But one needs inside information to know if that's the case, or whether the artist contributed.
- Auction sales are corrupt when seller and friend agree to arrange the amount bid. If there is no superior offer the friend must buy the work, which the seller reimburses — having artificially raised the artists' rating. (Fees of 3-20% on sales do not stop the practice.)
- "The public thinks a gallery owner just presents works of art. The reality is infinitely more complex..."
Ivana Dimitrie,galerie Ivana Dimitrie, Palais-Royal gardens (please scroll down)
# # #
An example of the galeries behind Saint-Germain's prestige: that of Jeanne Bucher-Jaeger.
- "Art was like a battlefield to which she gave the best of her forces."
A recently-founded gallery that one can trust: Galerie de Buci.
(Since 2012 at 73 rue de Seine)
Exhibit The Doves of Peace by Dominique Rivaux, 2022
I recommend it because
a knowledgeable collector suggested it
and because Dominique Rivaux, whom I know well,
would never accept an occult arrangement.
# # #
When I asked Monsieur Brissot's advice on acquiring art,
he thought for a minute then said,
- "The work must have a philosophy. Otherwise it is just decoration.
- If you fall in love with a work, don't buy it immediately: it may be only seductive.
- Beware of art magazine write-ups, which may be an exchange for advertising.
- Avoid merchants who say that a work is 'magnificent,' or concentrate on how it is made.
- Start by relatively inexpensive purchases like drawings, to let your eye evolve."
# # #
Other memories
- Another well-known critic: "This work is awful, but I have to say nice things about it."
- A gallery owner: "See that little flag on the horizon? It gives the painting its energy." Merchants who give keys to understanding a work are sharing their passion: trust them.
An art collector on the need to train one's eye:
"If I wanted to buy a condo in New York, I'd know what I was doing because I own one and am a member of the building's board.
But for a condo in Hong Kong, I'd be winging it."
# # #
My opinion:
Buy art because you love it
and invest in something else.
Better yet forget investing,
and donate the funds to encourage positive change.
You win twice:
The work enriches your life
and doing something useful makes you happy.
No comments:
Post a Comment