Monday, October 31, 2011

ART - ELITE LIFESTYLE

Christie's and Sotheby's hold their big autumn art sales in New York starting next week, with both houses looking to Pablo Picasso to excite a robust market.

The prominence of important works by Picasso, Matisse and other modern masters in the impressionist and modern art sales at Christie's on Tuesday and Sotheby's on Wednesday reflects the healthy appetite this year for big-ticket works, auctioneers said.

A strong market is also expected the following week when the two houses hold their contemporary art auctions.

Simon Shaw, head of the modern and impressionist department at Sotheby's, said the offerings are "slightly bigger in the number of lots, (which) reflects perhaps an increased confidence."

A low estimate of $185 million is expected for the Wednesday sale, led by Picasso's playful and erotic "L'Aubade," estimated at $18-25 million, and Henri Matissse's monumental bronze sculpture of a woman seen from the back, "Nu de dos," estimated at $20-30 million.

In Malaysia, the market has always been a non-starter even with the existence of the Balai Seni Lukis Negara, which is not an auction house. With the involvement of the Ministry of Tourism in the promotion of art tourism, this effort has become quite meaningless to say the least. If art cannot be widely promoted by BSLN what makes MOT think they can. The only difference would be that they have " a lot " of money to spend.

The next question to ask is that will people come to Malaysia to see and art show. The answer will certainly be no.

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