Towards fair BRAFA-2014. Tips collectors from Russia
ARTinvestment.RU   19 ноября 2013

Interview with the President of the Belgian Fair BRAFA Harold T'Kintom de Rodenbeke and BRAFA representative in Russia by Catherine Lemonade - de Rochambeau

upcoming 59th art fair in BRAFA Brussels -based Belgian antique dealers association , officially kicks off January 25, 2014 and will run until February 2. But planning a trip experienced people advise in advance. Sophisticated collectors would be better to get on the boards for a couple of days earlier. About that, what's the point and how to do it , ARTinvestment.RU tell our readers are already familiar Harold T'Kint de Rodenbeke , the Belgian gallery owner and president of the fair BRAFA , and a representative BRAFA in Russian Ekaterina Lemonade - de Rochambeau .

ARTinvestment.RU: I read that in 2014 you decided to change its name : BRAFA of the Brussels Antiques and Fine Arts Fair was simply Brussels Arts Fair. Why did you get rid of the word " antique " in the title ? Do anticipate a strong bias towards contemporary art ? I see what you have there even sell Basquiat .

Harold T'Kint de Rodenbeke : In terms of diversity offers no changes . Our Fair universal , so modern art was sufficiently represented in the past. Just the previous full name was too long , he's had to work harder in the marketing plan. And we now briefly and clearly : BRAFA all. But Brussels does not need advertisement . Same galleries that specialize directly on contemporary art at the fair is not much. We just have the situation when 'classic' gallery are also offered and contemporary art .

AI: As this time, the situation with galleries offering Russian art? I remember your gallery last year sold Serge Polyakov . And as this time ?

HT : Yes , last year in my gallery was very good Polyakov , I was quickly sold . But in general I am selling Russian art on the situation , when I find something interesting. For example , this year I will have a good Lansky . As for the Russian art galleries in the range, it will be , for example , the German BRENSKE Gallery, which offers a very good icons. At the stands of other galleries are also the authors of Russian School of Paris .

AI: In the list of virtues fair frequent mention of the map BRAFA Privilege? What is this card and what kind of package benefits it provides ?

X.T. : Physically, it is a plastic card , to which is attached a special guide . It will help people not only look BRAFA, but also appreciate the rich cultural heritage of Belgium. This card gives you advantages when visiting museums, public collections , restaurants, hotels . Each gallery gets a certain number of such cards to their customers . Part of cards distributed by organizers . BRAFA each year I conclude partnership agreements with various companies to visitors of the exhibition was nice. For example, Brussels Airlines offers a 20%discount specially for visitors BRAFA. At the fair there are also special arrangements with hotels. We have provided a great deal . In general, the maximum amount of information about discounts for visitors coming to the fair is on the site brafa.ru , including in Russian .

AI: in 2013, the stand was worth about 30,000 euros. And how much will it cost to participate BRAFA- 2014 ? Increased in price ?

HT : The prices have not changed . At the same time we increased their spending to increase the comfort coming . I recall that BRAFA - a non-profit organization , as well as TEFAF, and the Paris Biennial. Therefore the profit for us is not the purpose . Our goal - to provide the highest quality of services within our budget .

AI: How often Russian galleries want to participate in BRAFA?

HT : In 2014, we engaged two Swiss- Russian gallery : Kunstberatung and Fine Arts SVB. Both specialize in old masters . Partner and consultant Kunstberatung is the Russian antiquarian Andrian Melnikov . A founder of the Foundation Fine Arts SVB is Valery Babkin , which opened today in St. Petersburg, a very serious show , "The kingdom of flora ", dedicated florist in Flemish painting .

This time we have seen quite a few requests from Russian galleries. And we can say to dissuade them from participating . In this case, it was not as their proposed material and doubts that these things we sell. And our task - to create conditions so that the gallery owner on our Fair normally gain by selling to a maximum of gallery owners were satisfied. If we see that the presented material is unlikely in our market , we are a gallery of this fair warning and leave the application dismissed .

AI: But are the requirements to the level of the proposed works in recent years ?

HT : BRAFA famous for the already very hard to expert advice. But for the last 4-5 years, the quality of the exhibits submitted grown so much that the experts actually become less work. But it still is difficult areas such as archeology, which is much more difficult than with contemporary art . I think that the growth of quality due to the fact that every year we select the best galleries . And a rise in the growth of the class participants are offered on BRAFA things .

AI: As the European financial crisis has affected the art market ? You feel it for yourself ? Have the collectors to buy less ?

HT : I myself as a gallery owner, I notice that the market has changed . Customers not to buy less , but they have become much more picky and demanding. They are increasingly only the best period of the first names only . But with all this, my galleries turnover each year is increasing, despite the crisis .

AI: Many experts say the market abnormally high activity of Chinese buyers . Surprisingly, even in Russia for Chinese artifacts in the same Antique Salon is hunting . How to BRAFA? Notice the influx of buyers from China ?

HT : The fair has always been presented arts and crafts from China: objects made ​​of precious metals , glassware, porcelain XVII - XIX centuries , archaeological . But I can say that the Chinese objects at the fair gets bigger. Rather - Indian . But you're right : Chinese visitors at the fair gets bigger. I know that we even give a bit of advertising for the Chinese market . But to say that we are developing strategic relationships somehow , hardly . In particular, they have no representative in Russia . In general this is a very large and complex processes by country . By the way , many Chinese buyers often prefer not to come to the fair , and make purchases through dealers . Here comes a lot of them . But the interest of the Chinese and very specific : they buy the product of the national cultural heritage .

AI: Some people believe that in the last 2-3 years , after the resonant stories of Pussy Riot to Arctic Sunrise, attitude toward Russia in the world has become noticeably worse. All this carries over to the Russian attitude to art. There is ?

HT : I'm far from the policy and no cooling to the Russian did not feel it. If we talk about the attitude of Europeans to Russian art, some of the trends that I can point out a change of attitude to the Russian avant-garde. After a series of incidents customers became afraid of that period and require a " concrete " proof of authenticity. This is especially true and justified in relation to the newly opened and untwisted names in the Russian avant-garde. I do not want to mention their names , because working with this material other galleries . But, as an abstract example : there are collages of the artist of the 1920s , which became known in the West long ago , after the fall of the Berlin Wall. Collages - it's a thing that is theoretically possible to produce and later . And buyers to deal with such a heritage , recently appeared on the market, can be quite difficult. They need time , and until then the ratio will be naturally cautious . But all this , of course, does not apply to the first names of Russian avant-garde, to things with a good, documented provenance. These things are very rare , and they are , as before , just a queue of buyers .

AI: It was said that at TEFAF collectors almost running to the stands galleries, once cut the ribbon . On BRAFA also have such ?

HT : At TEFAF I do not remember that fled. But we also collectors come around for an hour before opening to be the first to hit on a variety of boards .

AI: And is before the official opening at the VIP-clients do not opportunity to see the exhibition ?

HT : By opening my understanding is exactly the same opening Day , which takes place in the format of the gala dinner . This event is for the elite , the most prestigious . At the gala dinner gallery party can only invite up to 10 people . Every year collectors call each with its galleries and agree in advance on the invitation . Another way to get there - is to be a representative of the press and to be included in the press tour . In general, the opening of the exhibition to the public is preceded by three levels of activities. The narrowest range - is a gala dinner at which galleries invite only 10 of their clients. This year it will take place on January 22 , and the participants will become familiar with the first exposure. The second day before the official opening on January 23 , assigned to the pre- show for collectors (collectors preview). There is also invite-only gallery, and usually call those customers who were not able to include in the list for the gala dinner . January 24 , Friday - is opening day. Opening Day - a social event where people come , by the way , politicians, prominent businessmen , and most importantly - the artists . January 25 will be opened to the public. On one of the opening days always come representatives of the royal court , because the fair is under the patronage of the Queen of Belgium. And do not just come and buy yourself on BRAFA - for their collections and museums .

AI: A buying representatives of the royal family? There is some public information ?

HT : The current royal couple loves jewelry, they buy them . But what items and who - usually not advertised. Several years ago, the web Belgian author of the beginning of the twentieth century, was purchased for the Cinquantenaire Museum in Brussels .

AI: What about the lottery drawing ? How widely represented on this segment BRAFA? And is there a growing interest in him , which we expect , but so far have not waited in Russia ?

HT : On BRAFA proposed quite a few lottery drawing. This segment is fairly stable , I would not say that it is growing . Yet on our fair buyers are looking for in the first place the original drawings , but not limited edition items .

AI: With what money is coming to BRAFA? At what level of prices can be expected ?

HT : I can give an example of the gallery , which, of course , is also involved in BRAFA . For example, I can find works by contemporary authors , and even modernist value of 1,000 euros. The bulk of the work on display will be in the range of 3 000-30 000. Although, of course , I and many of my colleagues will work , which cost from one hundred thousand to half a million euros. In short , the proposal - for any inquiries and for every budget . I note that there are always things BRAFA and several million euros. But even if the collector has a budget of just 1 000-2 000 euros, on BRAFA he will find a lot of interesting offers in DPI , photos, and other segments .

AI: What current differs from the previous BRAFA ?

HT : this time there will be more galleries offering works of the old masters. Flemish Golden Age - this is historically our theme, and in this segment have a particularly high-quality proposal . It is not surprising that this year BRAFA accepted in the ranks of the few strong galleries operating in this market . In addition , this time will be stronger than usual, presented the design of the XX century and Art Deco style .

AI: If you are a regular collector from a distance and are not invited to the gala dinner , then what day would go to the fair ?

HT : you can come easily , and in the week after the opening of the fair , calmly walk through the stands , dine , have fun. Because in the first weekend , we certainly crowds . But frankly, if I were a foreign collector necessarily would have tried to get on the opening day. Let me remind you that it needs to get an invitation either from the gallery, or by writing a letter to the Russian representative BRAFA Catherine Lemonade (she has a small supply of invitations ) . And the third way to get to Opening Day - buy a ticket. Tickets are very expensive, they are few, and can therefore be considered as an option of last resort . For example, if your visitor came from afar , and an invitation to him to be found. That is, buying a ticket - this is an exception to the rule , in case you need someone to "save ».

AI: What in the days BRAFA advise see in Brussels

Catherine Lemonade - de Rochambeau : You name it . But I would advise to go to the exhibition of contemporary art private foundation in Brussels , who founded the French collectors Solazh ( maisonparticuliere.be ). Another 6 December in Brussels opens new museum of modern art fin de siecle ( fine-arts-museum.be ). In the days of the fair , on January 29 at Art Center Bozar ( bozar.be ) will open a retrospective of Spanish artist Francisco Zurbaran . Those who come to BRAFA advance to the exhibition will have time to XV century Dutch painter Rogier van der Weyden , which closes on January 26 at the Royal Museum of Belgium ( fine-arts-museum.be ). And in the Museum Leuven ( mleuven.be ) these days you can see the exhibition " Flemish Raphael "- Renaissance painter Michiel Cox. This, of course , only a small portion of the possible program for the planned visit to Belgium is very rich cultural life .

way, directly on the site BRAFA will be presented very interesting exposition . The guest of honor at the fair this year - the Royal Museum of Central Africa, the world's best in their field. Despite the fact that primitive art in our country is not popular , to trace its impact on the significant works of the twentieth century, always interesting and informative .

AI: Let's sum up . Do I understand that the sequence of actions for the Russian collector to collect on BRAFA, shall be as follows : go to the site , read the information about discounts on hotels and tickets , check in, then contact the gallery or representative in Russia for an invitation to the opening ?

HT : Yeah, right . Another site you can buy a ticket for BRAFA online. We are talking about a ticket on a normal day , and not on the opening day. The site , in any case, it is cheaper .

AI: Collectors all over the world - people are thrifty , they will be useful to know. Thanks for the good advice , and good luck at the fair .

Interviewed by Vladimir Bogdanov , AI