How to ruin art-рынок in Russia. Step by step instructions
ARTinvestment.RU   31 января 2018

During the years of Soviet power collectors and art dealers have learned to survive in the most severe conditions. However, to throw the art market into a state, "as it was in the Soviet Union" — task in our days it is quite feasible

Main — to act methodically.

To the credit of the secret powerful forces, a significant part of important subversive activities against the Russian art market has already been done. Below are only formulated a few steps that will help to finish the legal art market in Russia and return it to the epic era of the underground trade. Ago during the risk of huckster, enthusiastic speculators and controlling all bodies.

Write how to do this, you need to act.

Step 1. To cause irreparable damage to the infrastructure of the enemy, destroy his industrial base. First of all it is important to deprive art-рынок its basic forms of functioning and communication. To do this, disable trade fairs, salons, exhibitions-продажи. When conducting special operations, it is recommended to strictly observe the rules of conspiracy and the use of "salami tactics" — movement to the goal in one fell swoop, but piece by piece. In particular, should not be too to speed up the process of replacement of members of the art-рынка prestigious and popular trading platforms. Better gently stretch it for a few years: first to destroy the most vulnerable retail formats gradually increasing the pressure. "Art-Москвы", "Art-Манежа" we need to move gradually to the Antique shops. The landmark event confirming the success of the chosen tactic, you can consider taking grounds CHA, who performed the role of informal headquarters of the antique market (the most powerful in the art market).

Step 2. Disrupt the controls. Association and active members of art-рынка need to make to move from strategy development to tactics of defence. It is important that a Confederation of antique associations and art collectors instead of working for the future and efficiency were absorbed by legal disputes, devising a temporary scheme trade organization, were in search of "loopholes" in toughening the laws and protection from the attacks of the state and parastatal structures. Among the most effective ways to tie down the enemy forces it is possible to recommend the creation of controversial laws (such as trafficking in cultural property) and the development of cumbersome regulations without discussion with the professional community. At the moment when the enemy starts to get nervous and concentrate forces in the area of possible breakthrough need to strike at the least expected direction.

Step3. Use the elements of harassment, antique and art in General-сообщества. Most effective — through the arrest and trial of leaders of art-рынка respected in their environment. It is not necessary to spend extra resources on argument, dialogue and the credibility of the charges. It has no practical value. It is enough that the enemy got a clear signal, I began to get nervous and make mistakes. Task — to create an atmosphere of anxiety. The criterion of efficiency of this measure can be considered as the emigration of traders, their translation activities in the "standby" or closure of the business. Over time to eliminate the remaining highly secret groups, you can move to more drastic tactics.

Step 4. To block export opportunities for artists and market participants (traders). Under feigned-патриотическую rhetoric, under the slogan "do not give to take away a national treasure" to keep the most unwieldy regulations for the export abroad of paintings, drawings and sculpture. And even better to tighten. It is especially important to create obstacles for exportation of contemporary works created less than 50 years ago — that is, for the bulk of the sold items. To completely ban the export of such items while unlikely to succeed, but to create prohibitive regulations export —. We have to act decisively: the audience quickly gets used to any absurdity. For example, the artists themselves sell their own works, should be required to derogatory reference, that their paintings are not of cultural value. The auctions and galleries who wish to remotely sell modern art abroad, it is also necessary to complicate the process to the maximum. For example, to introduce a requirement that an export permit aliens a few weeks designed personally on the territory of the Russian Federation. In this case, even the absence of an explicit prohibition makes the export art of the impossible as a business. The goal will be achieved.

Step 5. To legitimize and encourage arbitrary decisions in terms of destination of export duties. In order to maximize their overstatement. In particular, should be allowed to appoint a duty, when choosing the base for their calculation of maximum auction prices for the artworks, without consideration of the actual class of the exported work. If the specific outward job of the artist Ivanova has a market value of 1 000 000 rubles, and his auction record is 100 000 000 rubles, in the calculation of export duty is to insist on the second digit. Let them pay a hundred million, and no receipts in the calculation can not take it, as we pretend to act in the interests of the state. This step with high probability will force the owner to abandon the export and will serve as a lesson to other potential buyers of art. They have experienced and continue feared bureaucratic restrictions associated with the possession and trafficking of works of painting, graphics and sculpture.

Step 6. Under no circumstances (except when required by the conspiracy) do not allow the dignitaries to participate in the discoveries of important market events. No Antiques fairs or in exhibitions. Especially in exhibitions of contemporary art. You should not bring any positive signals, we cannot provide any kind of support, even indirectly. Remember that in Russia any manifestation of attention at a high level gives a prestigious aura to the event, legalizes the phenomenon, causes imitation, and creates fashion. When there is nothing better for the preservation of art-рынка and, therefore, nothing is more dangerous to its destruction than a fashion for collecting. It is necessary to ruthlessly fight and to lead to marginality. You need to put into the heads of potential buyers the feeling that contemporary art — is first and foremost scandals, public lewdness, political provocations and deceitful mockery of the old ideals of beauty. You need to consistently"brainwash", to normal people shied away from the words "contemporary art" as "a clockwork orange" from scenes of violence.

Step 7. To prevent, and failure to stop — to sabotage a promising experimental form of trading. You need to skillfully use the fact that the new formats are always increased organizational vulnerability. To discredit them is usually quite small local measures type of sudden postponement of an event, entailing great inconvenience to the participants. Especially for foreign. For example, a sudden transfer to the international fair in the Arena for the week ahead creates the necessary risks to its stability for many years to come.

Step 8. Unpredictably changing the rules and the law to accept the innovations, which is obviously unacceptable for market participants. For example, Federal law to require sellers under penalty of fines and sanctions transfer of personal information about their counterparties, third-party nongovernmental organizations. Yes, even if and state. It is known that information about clients is a commercial secret. And its involuntary disclosure would deprive law-abiding traders in best of their customers.

Step 9. To form a "network of agents" and to provide a platform to propagandists. Destructive reforms require the system of lobbying in government and justification at a public level. For this task suitable famous people (actors etc.) who will explain that trade restrictions will not go harm and only benefit. We need people of the "state of thinking" that will advocate for "putting in order at customs." They will tell the media that the restrictive measures are introduced for the benefit of the whole society. And they will explain to an ignorant audience that without the prohibitions of dishonest dealers will take away a national treasure. It is important that all these statements are absolutely safe for lobbyists. They should not fear the risk of exposure. The idea of any restrictions, tightening and tightening nuts fully comply with the state-sponsored "Patriotic" course. These ideas are gladly supported by the state Duma and readily picked up by the media dependent on government.

Step 10. Under pressure from community participants in the art market to make concessions in small matters, interlocking via-настоящему breakthrough for business development steps. For example, it is possible to strongly simplify the mode of export-ввоза for private museums (it's good, but such museums in the country can be counted on the fingers) and at the same time not to make any breaks for businesses that sell works younger than 50 years. Unwieldy legislative process and the activities of lobbyists would gain the time needed to further weakening and loss of competitiveness of the participants of the art market.

Step 11. Regularly raise at the public level, the theme of "luxury tax" for private collectors and putting them "on record". The idea of compulsory registration of works of art for resale, as well as the introduction of registers of cultural property — is an effective way to scare those who are planning to collect art. The risk that the state could "take the pencil" and a General atmosphere of distrust of the system is driven away from the art market partsolvent audience and generally slow down the formation of a new class of collectors. It is important that you do not even have to take practical steps, enough verbal intervention.

Step 12. Lobbying efforts with natural support for the state-controlled media channels to reinforce a negative image of entrepreneurs working in the art market. Let no one think that this is a simple self-employed people who are in difficult times as-то feed themselves, their families. Not asking for money from the budget. You need to give them a way unscrupulous "thieves" who surrounds himself with corrupt experts and just waiting for an opportunity for profit to sell off a national treasure.

the above steps — is the minimum necessary, but not the exhaustive measures required for the collapse of the national art-рынка Russia. The effect will be significantly weakened, if the enemy will be able effectively to work and to growth in other sectors of the economy that are not directly related to the art market. Always worth to remember that the main driving force of the art market — is a effective demand from the cultural strata of society, connoisseurs and collectors. Support art-рынка in Russia is an educated upper middle class with a monthly income of 300 000-500 000. They need to focus the brunt of it. Fortunately, they are timid. The tendency of these people to buy is highly dependent on sound economic expectations. Or in other words, from belief in the near future. Buyers are not risk averse and for the most part "weak in the wound." To shake their intentions to create nervousness, to push for rejection of the purchases would in practice be fairly easy to use. It's helpful to let them know ahead of waiting for long years of "stability". They immediately understand everything. After all, in their jargon "stability" means maintaining a situation in which their real income at best will not change, and likely will always be under threat of reduction. Such sentiments are not conducive to shopping. Additionally at this audience it is useful to broadcast any manifestation of foreign policy of confrontation. Educated people with above-average income needs to constantly feel that at any time may face the need for quick departure abroad. And they should not part with the idea that collected over the years collection of Russian art they are likely to take will not succeed. All our best. Even if the law allows, regulations, fortunately, are made so that the removal may not be enough time.

time required for the implementation of the above-described plan? This momentum is encouraging: 10 of 12 these steps are already several years in the process of implementation, and half of them are close to completion or practically possible. Theoretically, if to mobilize all forces, with the civilized art-рынком you can kill in 300-500 days, a maximum of two years. During this time, will be broken, and to starve the regular army of auctions and galleries. Then, you will be taken for the destruction of partisan groups, individual centers of resistance, warlords and illegal art-сообществ,referred to in the common gangs. Now requires initiative and discipline. The enemy is disoriented, the members of the art-рынка are significant losses. The advantage is on our side. It is important not to give them all time to recover.

Vladimir Bogdanov, AI