In early February, the major London auction sites conduct auctions modern art. Analysts frozen in anticipation: auctions show whether good «hold strike» the first names of contemporary art

public auction modern art in the context of the instability of many buyers make the blood run faster. I think even the deepest connoisseurs of contemporary creative experiments will not deny that this market in recent years, marked «bubbles». For lovers (they have no such money) in galleries and at auctions nabezhali all kinds of «portfolio investors» and top managers, who «take care of once». Look really hard. Articles critics, intellectuals, and exhibition catalogs feature itself does not deal - it's true. This is accounted towards consultants, who quickly explained that the «cool», and what does not. The question of objective market value, as a rule, not standing, because of plans like most resale buyers are not built. And then the auction. And the auction impassivity. It - the entire check. Therefore, such events and are waiting with great interest. Only they, and no study can give an answer as «hold strike» master recognized Contemporary art. But at the same time to compare how the same conditions lead to their teachers - the post-formalist.

A few words of background information, which is closer to the opening of a series of specialized auction of contemporary art. First - «Entertaining mathematics». By the end of January, the index ARTIMX Contemporary Art to check out 2 695 points - slightly above the level at which he was a year ago. Skeptics will note that since November last year, the index cool «skis», because at the peak values achieved at 3 117 points (probably on the news about the sale of the calling Hirst). So it would seem, on the one hand, there is nothing to boast, but on the other hand, such a problem as the lack of growth, is now complaining was not - everything is fine.

The second part of the background information as we approach the date of trades - an increase in the number of «soft» scandals to draw the attention of the public to «a-way» names in contemporary art. Perhaps, to Richard Prince with Andreas Gurskii not confused. Already? So in order because there is public relations. To illustrate the genre occasion, for example, this: Prince was accused of copyright infringement . Eka wonder! All for plagiarism «cling» - and Hirst and Koons. But the public can once again tell you that Prince - the artist-appropriator, it is not just «podvorovyvaet» off and attaches «borrowed» images a new meaning. This here is not hard sophisticated PR: like and wrong, but what's charming blusterer f-fellow - a creative kind excusably. And by the way, soon all you will have the opportunity to fight at an auction for his masterpieces. As for the masterpieces , whose exhibition at Versailles has recently tried in the court to prohibit the heir Bourbons.

The third new, complementary background - from comic-analytic level. In January, Bloomberg News reported on the British research agency ArtTactic . Londoners interviewed nearly hundred and fifty (!), Collectors, dealers and art consultants on both sides of the ocean with a view to ascertaining the view - one of 46 renowned contemporary artists will retain their positions in the future. It did not look far - at 10 years is enough. Six received the following prize: Gerhard Richter (common practice not to make the distinction between the «living» and «modern»), Jeff Koons, Cindy Sherman, Robert Gaubert, Bill Viola, and Richard Prince. Source of basic movements and today's market trevolneny «Contemporary», - Demian Hurst lost somewhere in the 21 spot. A «closing» began David Salle, firebrand Chapman brothers, and Franz Ackermann. All can be. The difference in the classroom and the importance of these figures are not troubled. Therefore, treat this as «an index of trust», everyone decides to let himself. I do as a respondent to этакий seasoned collector with a serious face, which poslyunyaviv finger, trying to not only determine the direction of art-the wind, but also to predict the weather for the next ten years.

Laugh laugh, but with all the tension method, the same names, familiar rated, operate, and the auctioneer - the organizers next auction of contemporary art. In full accordance with the same ranking hierarchy fired forward «Armor» Richter, Koons, Sherman (this is, it seems namesake tank?). And then gave them to cover «infantry» rating from «dohodyagoy» Hurst, Quinn, and other «Murakami». Matches the range and sort of evening and afternoon sessions surprising. With Sotheby's, which Christie's - look at catalogs, and there is a feeling that the competitors not only pry from one another, but also canceled. Evening bidding on a set of names - so conditionally, «gallery Gagosyana exit»: with Kapur, Hurst, Koons and other fashionable Contemporary located post-deserved «old»-formalist Piero Mantsoni, Luchio Fontana, Gerhard Richter, Andy Warhol, Mark Rothko , Francis Bacon, Dan Flevin, etc. In turn, the names of the trading day - so, let us say, «a branch gallery Tatintsyan»: Peter Helly, George Condo, Tal R, Antony Gormley, Vic Myunis. It is clear that artists are common, many with life in the collections of Gagosyana and Saatchi. The difference is that in the past two years the work of these established artists were brought and sold in Moscow (mostly gallery Tatintsyan) within the group and personal exhibitions. I do not know how many saw live Hirst exhibition at London's White Cube or Koons in the Parisian suburbs, but Helly and Kondo could comfortably look at Ilyinke. It should be recognized that in the past year and a half formed a different view of the western post-war and contemporary art. Moscow quickly removed and assertiveness on the topic from the «Club kinoputeshestvennikov» to the «you - witness». With no name, so remember ... yeah, this is for «Red October» show, but this - at Ilyinke. Sweet. And now, as we all know, it is easier to discuss specific proposals at the February Sotheby's and Christie's.

Jeff Koons pyramid. 1988. Copy 3 of 3 Wood, see t. 154,9 x 134,6 x 78,7. Estimeyt: 2,2-3,2 million pounds. Lot number 15. Sotheby's. 05.02.09 Prognoz AI: closer to the lower estimeytu or «not sold»

When pet bourgeoisie, by the most expensive work of living artists, habitually criticizes bourgeois - it melt. Jeff Koons treats like this: hit on kitsch kitsch and vulgarity if the slip, then it is necessary to catch and to erect on a pedestal, that stupidity was visible to everyone. Some of these, and possibly more profound motivations operated Koons, which created one of the most successful of its sculptural series «triteness». Polutorametrovaya wooden sculpture «pyramid» - this is from there. Do not go in it allusions to the theme of The Bremen Town Musicians. Characters do not converge, and in general. The artist himself is hinting that the story illustrates the rational and the irrational in the political system. Hozdvor Orwell? Well, it's too allegorical. After all, Koons - artist appropriator. The head long breaks - it suggests images of life itself. Venture to suggest that the sickly pigs, birds, he podsmotrel in a souvenir shop. Know if another master crafts submit to him in court. Technical perfection «pyramid» is not random: concept artist embodied Group Masters, special guests from Italy and Germany. But this is already common practice. Creator of the plan is limited. And to the plane, but also in triplicate ... Given the run of the tender, its surplus metaphorical as well as strengthen the critical relationship to the artist, it is feared that «pyramid» will not be easy to find a buyer for the alleged 2.2 -3.2 million pounds. Therefore, the forecast AI - closer to the lower estimeytu or «not sold».

Not a particularly bright prospects for AI and the predicted picture Koons «monkey» 2003, performed in the aesthetics of photorealism. February 11, will be sold at Christie's. Koons is generally creative weakness to inflatable toys and balls. Monkey - which inflate gas cylinders at the holidays, children in the joy. But Koons is correct myself: entourage and poses of characters chosen so that the child they are not exactly the place. Estimeyt: 1,4-2 million pounds. In earlier times, the picture went on again, but in February of 2009 - unlikely.

 

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Hurst in the upcoming auction will not be enough. Total of five or so. Apparently, the buyers give themselves time to come in after the storehouses of total sales leader Brit-Art, which took place late last year at Sotheby's . History got noisy. Experts predicted that the move for the market of suicide. With the caveat that it would be true for any other artist, but Hurst could all get away with. Soon there were reports that prices for works by Hirst fall, overstocking, and all that, while the maestro himself all nipochem, «case life». True or not - everything is possible. Definitely know is that Hirst has historically surrounded by too many «drama». Rock the boat wants to play in raising or lowering was always предостаточно. So, to draw conclusions about the crisis in the market of an artist early on. Actually «Funeral» Hurst - again an excellent occasion for PR.

displayed at Sotheby's heart «Dark Days» - a very recognizable «cyclic» work is enormous, highly decorative, can become an ornament to any collection of contemporary art. Yes even with a symbolic value. Hurst offered the work of Victor Pinchuk Foundation, to charges of its implementation aimed at charitable program «Cradles of Hope» to establish specialized centers to assist newborns in Ukraine . Estimeyt work up to 350 thousand pounds. Noting a number of rational arguments, AI anticipates caring for a much higher price - for example, 700 thousand pounds.

Formally, a much lower cost of money to buyers of the Hurst, related to its well-known pharmaceutical cycle. True, the AI is no doubt that the kind of ordinary chemist's cabinet buy for under estimeytom 70-90 thousand pounds. Justified such a purchase is not exactly call. The same fate is likely to suffer similarly priced canvas without a title with a glossy circles. 90 thousand pounds today - too much. In addition, it is also small.

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And here came all the familiar face. Portfolio Gormley, Helly, Tal R, Kondo could be seen in Russia - in the gallery Tatintsyan. Ascetic «Another Time IV» sculptor Antony Gormley - it is almost two meters, and about 600 kilograms of metal with estimeytom 150-200 thousand pounds. This iron Andros there are four twin brother. And countless «colleagues». Two years ago, a similar sculpture placed on the ears of many people in London. As part of the art project, nearly three dozen cast-iron characters placed on the roofs of houses, and people began to dial the phone number perepugu rescuers, fearing for the intentions of «suicide». The authorities had to conduct outreach to reassure citizens. Then history repeated itself on a beach near Liverpool, but there rebelled against the iron army, even environmentalists, because the statue raspugivali not only the bathers, but also birds. However, all these nice scandals only increased the visibility of the artist and, consequently, its capitalization. So it is now 200 thousand pounds of upper estimeyta does not seem to be a pipe dream. AI nonetheless make a cautious guess: below estimeyta, 130 thousand pounds, if you will allow the reserve. In England, as in Russia, sold more difficult things that you can not hang on the wall. Although the crow too much.

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«French maid», George Condo, too, reason is so familiar. At the end of last year in Moscow ended with a representative exhibition of his works just out of this cycle. Kondo existential portraits are prepared for the viewer. Without knowledge of history will obfuscate the intersection of visual ideas Picasso. Then evaluate the author's absurdizm and the logic of fixing the emotional peak of the character will be much more difficult. Price forecast AI - just below estimeyta.

PETER Helly White cell with coduit. 1986. Canvas, acryl, see v. 148 x 285. Estimeyt: 30-40 thousand pounds of Sotheby's. 06.02.09. Forecast AI: 25 thousand pounds

Job Peter Helly 1986, visited the Saatchi collection, the gallery Gagosyana and in private collections, has returned to the auction. Name without content is not translated - White cell with coduit. Abstraction: is a white object is black, there is a «interface» (interaction zone). This is one name - a good subject for studying the new owner. Estimeyt 30-40 thousand pounds of AI seems vysokovatym, but the size is too large. On the other hand, it is all the same thing twenty years ago. Yes, the possibility of «shikanut» in a conversation that before the thing was Saatchi's collection, too, something so worth it. Helly now doing other things, cheerful and acidity that does not like it all. Opinion AI - 25 thousand pounds.

Art by American artist of Brazilian origin Vik Myunisa well known to the Moscow audience. Two years ago he represented in the capital of «Russian project» - reproduction technique in the author's stories of museum masterpieces of Russian painting - from Vereschagin and Mashkov to Rodchenko and Malevich. Method Myunisa - a mosaic of story pictures of different materials (powders, pieces of metal, toys, debris, etc.), then fixing the film, print, poster small circulation and the destruction of the original «mosaic». Career Myunisa is very successful. The works are well represented in the gallery market, plus an extensive history of auction sales (more than 300 auction results only in print), even and strong results. For example, two years ago meter photo a la Warhol «Nine Jackie» sold for 90 thousand dollars. Presented at the February auction «Black Marilyn» (feel too uorhollovskaya issue) rated significantly lower - 20-30 thousand pounds. Forecast AI - closer to the upper estimeytu. A better take just a couple of chess: the black girl - the same, but inversivnuyu, white, which is also represented at the auction.

 

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Concluding the topic «older friends» (who could see the representative in Moscow), is worth paying attention to the lot of the afternoon auction Christie's. Tal R 2002. «Bikers from Zero» (or out of nowhere?) - May well be that it should be transferred Riders from Zero. February 12, for a bright decorative dvuhmetrovy canvas (oil, acrylic, see t.) be asked to 30-40 thousand pounds. According to AI, the risk of failure at such a price is great, but probably the lower purchase estimeytu. Tal R - young and can not be said that the superstar in the world of Contemporary. But the thing energetic, «hard» (as the Leo Nusberga ), so that there is a chance.

RICHARD PRINCE Untitled (Cowboy). 2001 Photo. 52,7 x 131. Estimeyt: 240-280 thousand pounds. Lot number 24. Christie's. 11.02.09 Prognoz AI: the lower estimeytu

superstar - is Richard Prince. Experts and the public, he loved his fotoappropriatsiyami, borrowing an invoice with the introduction of new ideas. In practice, this is realized as follows: peresnimaesh advertisements in glossy magazines «Marlborough» with cowboys and humpback mountains, kollazhiruesh (optional) kadriruesh and large print format. After summing the definition of literacy ideological justification for the work involved in a major museum and begins to cost hundreds of thousands of dollars. Just do not forget: on the whole road needs a fantastic success - the main component of modern art on the road to recognition. Manufacturability of Prince, many causes irony. But on the other hand, who said that the modern artist is obliged to go to otvisshem sweater, perepachkannom paint? It is not necessary. Important ideas of courage, innovation. Who, after all, decided that the magazine collages can not hang in the MOMA? Moreover, if they truly have the spirit of America and the embodiment of a certain lifestyle?

In summary, a series of western connoisseurs Prince can perform an excellent purchase for the evening Christie's on 11 February. Incredible beauty of the glossy photo photographer with a rider on the background of the mirror surface of the water will be sold with estimeytom 240-280 thousand pounds. Among the advantages - a very comfortable size, and visibility (no one will need to explain that the Prince). Forecast AI - the lower estimeytu.

But connoisseurs «intellectual lines» in the works of Prince, you can draw attention to its picturesque quote «sold silk in Florida», which will be exhibited at Sotheby's on Feb. 6, 2009. The small canvas is a mass - a copy of 3 of 5. I like it - mass canvas! In addition to the deep meaning, it contains text - the dialogue on Broadway with a man who for the first six months saw a white woman, because silk is sold in Florida. Perhaps an excerpt from the American classics. Quote of the good, but 35 thousand pounds estimeyta - are unlikely to understand it in Europe, which would be the island itself is not considered UK.

 

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Modern photorealism Marc Quinn, another superstar - is some way including for those who do not want to lag behind the fashion and wants to generate information events, while remaining within the natural visual images. The artist, of course, puts a shadow over the hurdle - in a series of «You think you understand at first glance, but actually is not so». At leisure, you can think about. But in general, wants to - that was hanging on the wall of the normal still-life, but all the guests were aware that this is the «slope» - Mark Quinn, and not just fruit on a plate. «Крутизна» Sotheby's on February 6, estimated at 80-120 thousand pounds. Her problem - almost trehmetrovy size. But, according to AI, buyers still prefer to part with money for juicy strawberries and other exotic positive. Outlook - within estimeyta, closer to the bottom border. And a few days later, on 12 February at Christie's will be sold much like juicy fruit still life Quinn for similar 80-120 thousand pounds. Same fruit, height 2.5 m, priporoshennye ice. For this, perhaps, composition, and received the name «Avalanche». By the way, the fruit on it posvezhee, 2008 - we have to take.

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At a price «Contemporary» estimeyt looks lonely in the 15-20 thousand pounds per meter gouache Alexander Koldera. 1970, 107 cm width, name, registration of the fund and 20 thousand of the artist, who now are asked for any fashionable parvenu. Where the edge this world?

For example, Banks. Modern pseudo-mysterious pseudo-graffiti-Reiter. Affiliate acryl exposed for 20-30 thousand pounds. Write copy that 5 out of 25! Represent? Banks - a permanent hero in London newspapers. It seems to me that his audience clearly divided into those who are truly hero of freedom and elusiveness, and those who see the entire happening big PR machine, and a grand archness. For the latest Banks - odious creature, designed to fill the gap, formed after the death of Jean-Michel Basque. Need a well-known, tame graffiti-Reiter. In response to demand a kind of substitute, as a group of «technology» after Depeche Mode and «Young Hanse» after the Guns-n-Roses. Evil Languages - Well what they take. In general, there are: Banks, «Children in Arms», 2003, world - world. AI for the world - a mountain, but the twenty thousand - it was twenty thousand. Opinion AI - did not sell.

BEKNSI Children weapons. 2003. Oil on canvas, acrylic, aerosol, see t. 50,8 x 50,8. Copy 5 of 25 Estimeyt: 20-30 thousand pounds. Lot 171. Sotheby's 06.02.09. Forecast AI: «not sold»

All the more so that, if you add as much again, you can buy this Baskov. Theoretically. There is a feeling that his picture «Untitled» ( «Skull»), placed with estimeytom 50-70 thousand pounds certainly not leave without a fight. Work years 1983-1984, the period of joint work with Warhol. Small (50 x 39) that, for «large» Baskov even plus. And, more importantly, very decorative, especially for those who are close to the skull theme images in art. Her lack of - in an eclectic CD. The work was done in small oil and acryl on paper and not on a plexiglass, which also serves the function of the background.

In general, the mood in the auction of Contemporary Art (namely Contemporary) - cautious optimism. Boom, no one is waiting. All will be extremely rational and prudent. Notably, the little material speculative - the same Chinese. They are, but they are unusually low. Pleased that there is a choice of quality work and that estimeyty become wiser. And then another pound to the euro approached, further podhlestnet initiative by European buyers. Expectations that are about the market now are put into place and Contemporary get a good momentum for growth, too, is unlikely to come true. Revolution is no need. Time such that the fit to live on the proverb «lack of news - this is good news». Saying, by the way, English.

Vladimir Bogdanov, ARTinvestment.RU