On the current situation in the market of painting and graphics
ARTinvestment.RU   23 января 2014

ARTinvestment.RU presents his assessment proiskhodischego the domestic art market

Until recently, analysts ARTinvestment.RU assessed the situation in the domestic trade market aggregate reviews its direct participants : there were other newsmakers , and we collected the information , draw conclusions and forecasts. In addition to using objective auction statistics (which our portal itself leads to domestic and foreign markets ), ARTinvestment.RU always sought to obtain additional information from the world of everyday art trade . At salons and fairs we regularly interviewed participants , including " off the record " conversation with gallery owners and dealers - in short, summarized the views of all major market participants practicing painting and drawing. The results of these surveys offered readers " average " picture of the world varying degrees of optimism. So optimistic lately did not matter. Observant readers will notice that the resulting reports on the latest Antique Salon and Fine Art Fair , we decided not to publish . Lest depressing .

To evaluate the objectivity of external information and understand the reasons for what is happening in the market, we lacked only one thing - self- shopping experience . So he came in last year with the launch of its own online auction ARTinvestment.RU . And this experience , I must say , fundamentally contradicts the view of many other market participants. Upon reflection, we decided to present its alternative assessment of the situation on the domestic art market , for ease of presenting it in the form of questions and answers .

Can you say that the situation today with sales of " killed "?

Judge for yourself: our weekly auctions sold an average of 50-60 %of the lots . And so all the last three months . This is normal , even above average , the level of consumer activity segment painting and drawing. On average, full-time auction market , this figure is 38%. Perhaps in other circumstances could be better, but " killed" this situation is not exactly call .

true that the market is not new buyers ?

Complaints about the lack of new buyers contrary to what we have seen with my own eyes . They are. But not those who usually take into account. For example, we note with interest that for purchased on our auction items are not paying bankers and businessmen and doctors , managers and people in general "peaceful" professions. Not poor , but not rich . Among them are those who are just beginning to collect or switched from other directions on painting - precisely those new buyers , newer nowhere .

Can we say that all problems with sales objective and arise from depressive situation in the economy and politics ?

sluggish economic situation did not exactly help. However, it is not necessary to place all the blame on her . Just the situation has changed . And in vain do not all agree to react to it - first of all recognize the new , lower prices , which are ready buyers . Demand is almost everything, but at lower prices .

All prices Whether it ? Here we have the starting price at the auction and did $ 100 . While still an average of 40 %is sold . How to explain this ?

The fact that the reserve price ( the seller agreed minimum price at which it is possible to make a deal ) for the current situation is too big. And if the seller refuses to close the success of " move over ." Some deliverers can not explain what can not be put on the level of reserves sotbisovskih records. And quite often in practice to reserve remain symbolic 1-2 pitch . This is unfortunate , and it is not clear , because the deal is upset because of some 3-5 %of the price . But all in all , our experience shows that there is a buyer for everything, only the "right" price .

AI According to the reports from the Moscow auction gives the impression that the book market boom and in the market of fine art is not the life . Maybe it's because the painting we are not so fond of ?

We ourselves have long puzzled over this phenomenon. But now reasonably believe that a more flexible market pricing and friendly sellers percentage of sales at auction of painting would not concede book trading. Alas, far from it . But his love for painting has nothing to do with it. This is evidenced by the huge interest in important exhibitions in recent years - the queues are . Results 2013 is not yet announced, but in 2012 , according to The Art Newspaper, the Hermitage was visited by over 2.4 million people (it is only slightly less than the attendance Orsay and Prado ) and the Tretyakov Gallery - 1.4 million . In addition to public exhibitions in recent years we have seen a boom of private exhibition initiatives - so that the decline of interest in painting no .

true that today it is difficult to sell the painting ?

This is a very common concern . Owners paintings worried whether they could be rapidly draw pictures in the money. Everyone knows that on a normal auction results (not necessarily positive ) can wait three months : while the catalog is typeset , the bidding approach. With all the gallery too vague. But a quick option as on the stock exchange ( exhibited and sold at the current market price) , they say , no. Actually sell at the market price can be quite fast. For example, this week on our auction site . If you set a reasonable reserve price and to specifically target the real demand , the quality art as an asset is liquid completely .

Are there recently on our art market any new positive trends ?

explicit growing interest in the exhibitions we have already noted . In addition, some museum structure (eg , the MMSI and MMAM with Phillips) started their own educational programs aimed at including the formation of a new wave of educated buyers. In the past year , new auction houses , a number of them have been working with cutting-edge art. Let these healthy trend is not very striking , but they are certainly a positive indicator for the art market processes .

What is the situation on the market of painting and drawing in 2014 we believe the most likely ?

economic situation does not have a boom , but buyers need not cease to be satisfied . Life does not stop. In this case and will continue to grow customer requirements for convenience shopping. Many prefer not to search for material in different places , as before, but to get an offer " on a silver platter ." But still have enough time to make a decision . And in this sense the market will go up to the buyer - prices must balance . Well, in March - April , if no force majeure , may begin a gradual rise in prices, it gives hope to the growing consumer activity schedule in September ARTIMXba.

Vladimir Bogdanov , AI