Why Basquiat was more expensive Kandinsky
ARTinvestment.RU   28 июня 2017

As the saying goes, survived: Kandinsky compare with Basquiat. And not even equal. In the middle of 2017 painting graffiti-райтера suddenly became worth 68 million more than the masterpiece of one of the main innovators of the early XX century. How to explain it?

Why even think about to compare so many different scale shapes? Coincidentally. One after the other within a month in may — by June 2017, was recorded two impressive personal record, which provoked a permutation in two ratings. Canvas new-йоркского graffiti-райтера Jean-Мишеля Basquiat first walked into top-10 the world's auction results with a price of $110 487 500. And significant painting by Wassily Kandinsky sold for $41 828 700, allowed him to take 3-е in the ranking of most expensive Russian artists.

Both prices — fabulous. But Basquiat is almost three times more expensive. His record is now at $ 68 million more than the Kandinsky. And this many do not fit in the head. How can this be?

this question becomes typical. After all, the same "claim" can be presented to many artists of the ranking of living as, however, and the number of absolute world Champions. Than, for example, so a good CY Twombly to his abstract "Doodle" was almost on par with the most expensive in the history of the genre Rubens? Or why Kabakov is in the ranking of the auction is much higher than the most expensive Aivazovsky and Alexander Rodchenko. Well, okay Aivazovsky. But did Rodchenko was not sufficiently innovative compared to Kabakov?

And similar examples in the auction pricing, you can collect just the sea. They never cease to amaze. While everyone understands that to compare prices on the auction with artist's place in art history — bad.

Incident Kandinsky and Basquiat in this sense, no better and no worse than the others. However, the case is not unique. Basquiat for some time regularly furnishes Kandinsky at the prices. Why?

On this score there are different hypotheses:

1. Unlike Kandinsky Basquiat — cult figure, "hero on heroin" and "rock star-н-ролла" which, as you know, "must die." Basquiat — is a classic live fast, die young, like Lermontov (26 years) as Choi (28) Morrison (27 years), as Tupac Shakur (25). All that he was destined to catch, the artist has made up to 27 years. In an age when Basquiat died, Kandinsky's not evenstarted. Vasily decided to become artists after 30. The life of Kandinsky was not sugar, but long. The artist died at the ripe old 77-летнем age, from stroke, from old age. Not from an overdose like Basquiat. For display of the image in our perverted age is a minus.

2. A system of graphic images of Basquiat, in contrast to Kandinsky, is best suited for media-тиражирования. It is well accepted by mass culture and fashion. Signature of the crown and the skull Camo (tag Basquiat) can now be found everywhere. From Reebok sneakers to t-shirts Uniqlo. I have two. And it all began not yesterday, and 5-8 years ago. But t-shirts with Kandinsky I wonder why-то not met (souvenir shops, museums don't count). Yes, the fundamental influence of the ideas of Kandinsky on modern fashion is indisputable. But direct quotes from the heritage of the "father of abstract art" on the streets find quite difficult. Those who are going to Google Fashion inspired by Kandinsky, just warning you, that better not. Then you may not sleep.

3. Basquiat — American, that is "your" for the largest art-индустрии the world. Kandinsky, from the point of view of foreigners, whether Russian artist, whether painter of Russian abroad from France, and even German, whom many think he is. But not the American. And need I remind you that Americans, more than anyone, learned tech to promote their first names and stake their place in the history of art. That is why the artist and the project is Basquiat could not appear in the suburbs of Paris, in Moscow or in Munich. Only in new-Йорке. At the right time and in the right place.

4. Innovation Kandinsky — trump, but not absolute argument. This is a common argument: Kandinsky invented abstraction, he was the first and invented your Basquiat? Maybe. But this logic is suitable only for academic debate. But in real life it is confusing. Assume that new-йоркский neoexpressionism — is the only iteration of the ideas of Kandinsky, embodied to them for 70 years before Basquiat's first pressed the spray paint. Let globally Kandinsky was the first, and Basquiat — tenth. But art is not science and not a sport. For example, rap as a genre first invented, believed to be Jamaican musician Kool Herc. But legend was not he, and Tupac. And nobody asks why.

5. Basquiat close in time, but because it is absolutely clear buyers gen 40 : businessmen, collectors and investors. At the same time, Kandinsky — is a progressive, but Antiques. Antiques are studied along and across, caressed by the attention and Museum. With him everything is clear, but there is no effect of novelty. Unlike the Basque, which is still a possibility of new discoveries, new research and even debate about the artist's place in art history. In short, the collector-исследователю with Basquiat will be more fun than Kandinsky.

6. Kandinsky is already in most of the museums in which he is supposed to be by status. But Basquiat many museums will have to buy. Anyone who had doubts. And the competition will increase, as long as the modern art museums grow like mushrooms after rain. It's funny, but our record Basquiat purchased a young Japanese entrepreneur Yusaku of Maezawa is also meant to be the new Museum of contemporary art, which will be built in Japan.

We assume that "the phenomenon of Basquiat", if not understood, then at leastcloser to a solution.

But we reasoned speculative. Without risking their own or other people's money. In such a frivolous situations, the choice is given quickly and simply. Cat or dog? Tea or coffee? Hamilton or Raikkonen? Kandinsky or Basquiat? Choose with your heart.

now imagine that you are an investor and you have not just to talk, and to invest. Presented? Now what is better: Basquiat or Kandinsky?

market parameters Kandinsky and Basquiat, surprisingly, quite comparable. Although Basquiat in all respects superior. According to statistics, in 2016, was sold 111 lots by Kandinsky for a total of $ 43 221 000 (39-е place in the ranking by turnover Artprice). Of these, 23 million were in a very expensive job. At the same Basquiat at auction last year, it sold 80 works for a total of $171 480 000, of which the most expensive is $57 285 000. 7-е in the ranking by turnover Artprice. The above Basquiat this indicator only Picasso, Richter, Monet, and the Chinese.

What is clear from this information? For both artists this is not the first occasion of sales in the tens of millions. Both have good liquidity and an impressive auction sales. Additionally, from other sources we know that the works of both continually grow in value at a rate higher than the market average. In principle, much in common.

however, the story of Kandinsky from the investment point of view is much more convincing and less risky. The artist's work added to the price systematically, gradually. In contrast to the case of Basquiat growth Kandinsky was not based on the individual eccentric purchases. And the current 42 million for his top-лот — is a natural result that the market was for decades. Generally the story of Kandinsky almost not suspicious in speculation. Everything is logical there. But 110 million for a Basquiat to cause more issues. Yes, the thing was good. But everyone understands that one raindrops still does not rain. And that skull is bought with a huge overpayment. And that to return the money, say, after 5 years of ownership it will be extremely unlikely. It is almost impossible.

So if I had to defend one of the two options before the investment Committee, the decision would be in favor of Kandinsky. If rationally. If mind.

Well, my heart ... he will not order. Dog. Coffee. Raikkonen. Basquiat.

Okay, enough about their business. Let's talk about our. What lessons can be learned from this story with Basquiat and Kandinsky?

the case of the Basque — model example of the efficient export of cultural product and cultural expansion. The artist, whose name the Americans learned 35 years ago, in great demand today, for millions of dollars. And are willing to buy the Germans and Japanese — demand absolutely international. Today in top-10 the most expensive artists of the world four — Americans. As-то they managed to do it!
And this is good news for Russia. Because the culture — is not microelectronics. Here our country has a natural competitive advantage and recognized historical achievements, on which to rely. And more importantly, culture — one of the few areas where today really is a lot. New management and money vbuhali in museums, have led to obvious results. Unlike the Olympic ski jumps, museums really were claimed by people who collect the public, put the attendance records . There are right steps, and on cultural export — export masterpieces for overseas exhibitions, the recent the revival of the "Russian seasons" .

But I need more. To remember names, cultural brands, to actively promote, to create fashion art. To begin with the avant-garde (that is). And over time, the interest in the old inevitably will be of interest to new. From the classics — to contemporary art. However, one of interest here a little. We need serious efforts to build infrastructure. To develop new, need to ask the right questions. And whether there is a sufficient number available for renting exhibition venues? Not enough art fairs? How do you like this site? Whether it comfortable to Park? Now no matter where you throw — everywhere wedge. But when you want — is obtained. And if it turns out that there would to -- to lay a good.

Vladimir Bogdanov, AI

What to read on the topic on AI:
Why some paintings are worth a lot of money?
New top-10 the most expensive artists of the world. Basquiat is now more expensive Malevich;
"Kandinsky in the Tretyakov gallery" has updated the ranking of Russian artists;
living artists: top sales;
the Most expensive paintings of Russian artists;
the Artists —, the authors of the world's most expensive works of art.