AI interview with one of the key figures in the auction market in Russia

Yuri Tyukhtin, the auction house" Sovkom »

October 27, 2011 in" Sovkome "will be an important auction «Russian and West-European Art XVII - XX centuries» . ARTinvestment.RU Cobiralas talk primarily about him. But the topics of conversation have gone far beyond the upcoming auction: frank about problems in the market of increasing competition, Yuri Tyukhtin did not select the "easy" questions, and none not left without an answer. However, we begin with anyway, the pressing immediate .

ARTinvestment.RU: Which top lots of the upcoming auction in late October, you lay hopes? What in the published directory, in your opinion, is "the bomb»?

Yuri Tyukhtin: In this auction there is no clear-cut top lots, it is very good and smooth. You can, of course, in the Russian section, select a great job , then , Sommer , Kryzhitsky , a wonderful essay , Nikolai Perov. It attracted proper starts - I think it should be increased in the course of trading.

In the twentieth century a great Drevin from the collection of the best years Kostaki published , museum-quality Pimenov ; Italian landscapes created by nature, our authors are reputable private collection passed to us for sale. here and Maksimov , and Gerasimov , and - sure, they will buy the lots. Romadin and Gritsay easy reference: both works were at one time presented to the authors of a very respected man.

String nonconformists and contemporary artists are also very strong: Rabin , , Purygin , Krasnopevtsev are the best things is very bright and new names. This is one of the best auctions that we have collected. Frankly, if we do not sell 50 percent of the lots, we take a break. That is" bomb "I would say just the result - if we can not sell it all.

AI: What's you point out in the fall of the market situation in 2011 compared to the fall of 2010

T. : So far, to antique shops, which is too early to assess, but that it did not improve, that's for sure.

AI: Is it true that in autumn auction catalog queued and things got there almost by cronyism? With what you tie it, but seasonal factors?

T. : Things really offer much. Just strip was raised high enough. If you judge by the number, then eighty percent of us did not take. Bluth nothing to do with, we are one hundred percent market organization, if we are profitable, we can see the future, we will certainly take the work on implementation. Taking the same things that we are not able to sell now - it's a waste of time, first . Secondly, it spoils our reputation and deter customers. Everyone wants what others do not. Attract the right thing for the right price.

AI: Is there a shortage of quality suggestions? Or people are easier to part with good things?

T. : Lack of quality supply is always there, but now it is the time very interesting. Weak demand offset by the fact that the market come the things that the owners had held back for better times. These times are long past, so the pricing is reasonable. Many have begun to give up illusions, and many forced to part with life collections.

AI: There is evidence that he stopped selling Socialist Realism. Which segments will be to shift the auction house, previously had a significant share of social realism in the structure of the sentence?

T. : stopped selling gift Socialist Realism, as I call it. It is sold, but in numbers ten times less. Work as Soviet academicians, and not just academics, but quality, museum-quality work, on the contrary, grow, and grow in value. Things something fewer and fewer remain. I will give one hundred thousandth of artists: both Gerasimov (Gerasimov and SV AMGerasimov . - AI .), Plastov, Serov, Romadin, Ugarov , Korzhev , Popkov , you can go on and on. I do not even touch the first names - Deineka , Pimenov, here are the transaction and for millions. There is a strong demand for large, important works of the first names.

AI: What direction will use it to your expectations, increased demand in the season 2011/2012? What's in fashion?

Y. T. : In my opinion, fashion is quality graphics. This is a global trend, and in Russia graphics underestimated by an order. Interest in the twentieth century, especially its first half, is growing. contemporary art market was blown away, there are many interesting projects, but to a stable trend (that is fashionable again) is still very far away. A market transaction unfashionable Russian classics go, only changing priorities. The last year or two felt an increased demand on the Russian hunting, we did a special string to hold auction . We hope that this time the demand for this topic was not lost.

AI: How did the preferences of customers after the first wave of the crisis?

T. : Consumers are spending less money and stopped to make random panic buying. All smooth and balanced way: "We have such-and-so, to pay we can so much. "Perhaps it should be. Courage is missing. so buy the best and most expensive things and cheap gift options. The whole middle is. And the gift segment considerably weakened: the budget over 10 thousand dollars now hardly anyone can afford to. Wants with basically the same: the theme of Moscow (St. Petersburg, not strange, less), still lifes and landscapes. People are trying to buy gifts for interior or beautiful, "tasty" things.

AI: It is said that soon" Sovkom "will enter into a confederation of Russian auction house (the structure created at the initiative of EDA). Why, specifically, against whom the competing auctions in the organizational structure going? What do you give it membership

T. : I have a constructive interaction with all professional participants in the art market. Issues to be dealt with collectively, lie on the surface: the struggle with falshaka and scams by unscrupulous buyers, lobbying liberalization of import and export regulations, the examination of works, exchange of information and so on. topic "against whom we will be friends," I do not understand, in principle, and the intrigue did not participate. In general, it is now fashionable to open an auction house but we should understand that it is heavy, professional and, sometimes, not very profitable business. So let's see who will be on the market in five years, who will spend at least fifty auctions. now too early to say any new confederation, We already have an International Confederation of antique and art dealers.

AI: We heard information about the unhealthy trend: people prefer to buy or to auction, or after the auction, but avoid the adversarial process itself. Do you confirm this? How big is the percentage of sales postauktsionnyh?

T. : Transaction prior to the auction happen. In year of their case, three - four. I categorical opponent of such transactions, and many respected collectors, as I do such suggestions and were refused, defiantly more of us did not come. Do not worry: there came other and bought it. This is the logic of double standards. Why " Sotheby's "and" Christie "with such ideas, they do not come out seem to think that we have been here a shtetl theme. It is wrong. The rules for all are equal. This are shopping in a museum - it is a priority for us. There are deals related to personal circumstances customers - to be honest: these deals were. We are always talking about that openly.

relatively posleauktsionnyh sales: it's a habit, unfortunately. Clients often less than lots, they will naturally wait. If the lot is sold, you get a chance to buy it cheaper after the auction. I'm doing this myself, this is normal. Sometimes, incidentally, is obtained on the basis of the opposite: not a "hit" at the auction - bought more. We collect bids from multiple clients, and if there's interest, the game goes on increasing. There are grievances: "How come I did not buy yesterday for 100, but now you have the 120 offer?" Lot ever be withdrawn from sale because the owners were hoping for significant growth and change your mind after the auction to sell at all. If the item is really needed, the recipe here is one: we must "beat" at the auction, then it is a hundred percent you.

AI: How "Sovkom" resolves the problem of defaulters (people not paying won lots) How do you protect yourself from unscrupulous customers?

Y. T. : We are trying to "filter" clients. With the primary participants take deposits. defaulters little. Sometimes people make mistakes commonplace. In fact, God spared me - as long as the major issues have been encountered. Sometimes the clients for six months and not paid but I never conflict, it does not inflate. Time has revealed that most customers come back, discuss installments and close the deal. Unfortunately, a common base of customers do not. Those who already know, we just do not admit to trading, as some do not quite appropriate characters - such too. According to our rules, we can remove from the room or not to participate in the tender to anybody if there is good reason.

AI: In which direction you plan to improve the quality of service? Will increase the warranty? What is your competitive advantage, for example, before the Russian auction house?

T. : I'll start with the last question. Our advantage - experience accumulated in the customer base. I'm talking about customers, and the principal, the owners of items. has established stable relationships. We know where the mushrooms grow, and to whom they are now required. And someone walking on the same forest and a bit of getting wet or frozen. Perhaps this is not successful allegory, but just about everything wrong in this business. Our committent know that we are always calculated punctually. Today have paid to us - you get the money tomorrow. Debt problems we have. No claims of works, their return, we never had. An important point: we do not have any outstanding claims to date, the same thing I said in an interview three years ago. Today, we deliberately avoid the quantitative growth, think more about quality the process.

Service - is always a sore point, and we can work better, but it all depends on the team. I think we still look much better than average. guarantees we give, but not at all the work. This should be discussed prior to the auction. Let me illustrate with an example. If an item has one or two examination, we can not give guarantees. Let them give those who have signed these documents. Conversely, if a lot to me one hundred percent all clear, then I'm ready to cash. When our market and customers to understand this dorastut, all will become easier. If you're referring to guarantee the sale of works, the give and such. I often ask that the minimum start, here I am giving a guarantee that thing will definitely be sold. How much - it is will determine the market. Sometimes you have to redeem himself, not without it. In my opinion, it is normal to deposit money into commodities in the long term benefit. So many have to work. If you call yourself the auction house, you market makers, and hence must be denoted by supply and demand in the market, backed not empty declarations, and liquidity.

AI: What are Russian auction houses to compete with "Sotheby's" and "Christie»?

T. : Just so we're here, closer to the masses. nothing more. We have too different weights.

AI: Will return to ever pre-crisis level of demand and price pre-crisis levels?

< strong> T. : Of course, but it will not be tomorrow

AI: Do you plan to actively enter into the structure of Russian contemporary art offers?

T. : If it will be more demand, then of course sreagiruem instantly. Look at the next auction - in my opinion, we are there to present a very worthy and the classics, and young people. We are all in each auction knowingly introducing new names. A 5-10 exhibitions per year, most of them are just devoted to contemporary artists and relevant. The format of the exhibition by the way, sometimes works much better than the auction.
AI: How is a catalog of trades? you still do delves into the process, or that your employees are engaged? who decides to be working in a directory or not?

T. : We have two major semi-annual auction in the fall and spring, which I edit in person. In the formation of other auctions very involved indirectly in the distance. They are collected, cataloged and conducted by our staff. The more they sell, the more they pay. In my opinion, this is the right motivation.

AI: How will the political reshuffle in Russia's policy on business in general and the art market in particular?

T. : In the next year or two unambiguously negative. Many have already voting with their feet. To Market grew up to be in Russia, not only was a net inflow of capital, but also formed an investment-attractive climate, sorry for the old phrase. So it was in the mid-2000s. There must be a certain courage, spirit must be others. Now Russia was not the most interesting the country. Ask any fun? China, Brazil, for example. The art market - it mikromirok, but he very clearly reflects the state of society resides. This is a huge potential, Russian buyers are generally best for me: they have not only money, but also the soul. I am optimistic for the future, I think it'll work yet.

questions formulated by Vladimir Bogdanov, AI