China Edges Out France As The 3rd Largest Art Auction Market

China occupies 3rd place in the global market

In the international rankings by sale proceeds, France, which is usually up in third place behind the United States and the United Kingdom, was deposed this year by China, thanks to the dynamism of a number of international auction houses.

It should be said that this year no less than 75 sales in excess of the million dollar mark were achieved there, with a top price of HKD 66 million (USD 8.5 million) for a work by Cai Guoqiang, an all-time record for a contemporary Chinese work, followed by two modern artists Beihong Xu (HKD 64 million) and Chen Chengbo (HKD 45 million). With rapidly-growing national demand and artists achieving explosive price levels, China can now compete with New York and London when it comes to orchestrating Fine Art sales with million dollar proceeds. This time, the most prestigious sales are not the prerogative of Sotheby’s and Christie’s.


Above: Cai Guo-Qiang, A Certain Lunar Eclipse (Project for Humankind No.2) 1991
sold for a record $568,880 at Christie's Hong Kong on May 29, 2005. His more recent work below was part of a series of 14 paintings that sold for 8.5 million USD just last November!


Above: a series of 14 of his gunpowder paintings sold for $8.5 million USD (66 million HKD) November 25, 2007 at Christie's, Hong Kong.


Above: Chen Chengbo's Danshui which recently sold for a record price of $4,478,149 HKD

The rise of China is also reflected in the number of auction houses and the volumes sold. Thus, with sale proceeds up by +78% between 2006 and 2007, competition is hotting up between the British and American auction houses and their local counterparts. At the end of the year, Christie’s still dominated its direct competitors, Poly International Auction, Sotheby’s and China Guardian with Fine Art sale proceeds of USD 197 million. But many fast-growing smaller-scale auction houses held their own with annual sale proceeds in excess of one million dollars, as was the case for Beijing ChengXuan Auctions, Shanghai Hosane Auction, Hua Chen Auctions and Beijing Council International Auction. In total, a hundred or so auction houses now organise prestigious catalogued Fine Art sales in China.

This market is also very attractive for the western market leaders such as Bonhams, which held a debut sale in Hong Kong on 26 November 2007, or Artcurial which inaugurated Artcurial China (Shanghai) with a first auction in January 2008.*

Furthermore, the arrival of China on the international art scene is all the more noticeable in the particularly buoyant and competitive contemporary art market. In 2007, there were no fewer than 36 Chinese artists in the Artprice ranking of the 100 leading contemporary artists by sale proceeds, with the unbelievably meteoric Zhang Xiogang in second place ahead of Jeff Koons!

Even the high profile American stars can’t withstand the appetite amongst collectors for young Chinese artists. Just 5 years ago, only Cai Guoqiang made the Top 100. With the arrival of these highly speculative artists on the international centre stage, the whole face of contemporary art at auction was radically changed in the space of a few months. Of the 35 contemporary artists having achieved million-ticket sales, 15 were Chinese. Suffice to say that, with such price levels, these artists are particularly newsworthy and they only need to appear in an auction catalogue to guarantee a successful sale. Speculation is also rife, the price levels of contemporary Chinese artists having increased by +780% since 2001! Some of them have seen their prices multiplied by ten in a few years.


Above:"Tiananmen Square," by Zhang Xiaogang, recently sold for just over $2.3 million USD (16 Million HKD)

One of the emblematic figures of this extraordinary growth is Zhang Xiaogang. Introduced at auction for the first time in 1998 with Blood Lines Series No.54 & No.55, a diptych sold for GBP 5,000 (EUR 7,117) at Christie’s, his market reached another dimension with a first series of million-ticket sales in October 2006 at Christie’s London for Big Family Series. One month later, he reached HKD 16 million (USD 2 million) with Tiananmen Square, a large-scale 1993 canvas, presented at Christie’s Hong Kong.


Above: Zhang Xiaogan, A Big Family, 1995, Saatchi & Saatchi Gallery,
More of his series of family portraits can be seen here.
And here.

In November 2007, his Family Portrait (1994) achieved USD 4.4 million in New York. His total 2007 sale proceeds amounted to USD 57 million, including 15 lots auctioned for more than a million US dollars. Amongst the artists performing most strongly we could also highlight Yue Minjun, ranked 4th by sale proceeds, with an auction record of GBP 2.6 million (USD 5.3 million) for Execution at Sotheby’s London. He is followed by Zeng Fanzhi, with a record of GBP 2.45 million (USD 5 million) at Phillips de Pury & Company in London.


Above: A work from Zeng Fanzhi's Mask series. Jasmine Fine Arts collection, Singapore Art Museum

In May 2007, Chen Yifei set a new record for an avant-garde Chinese work with Eulogy of the Yellow River: CNY 36 million (USD 4.7 million) under the hammer at China Guardian. He has since been seriously outclassed by Cai Guoqiang with a series of 14 drawings (one of which is shown above) which was snapped up for HKD 66 million (USD 8.5 million) at Christie’s Hong Kong Asian Contemporary Art sale on 25 November 2007.

With their media profiles now very high, these new stars not only headline the specialist Asian sales in Hong Kong, Beijing and Shanghai, but also the contemporary art sales in New York and London at Christie’s and Sotheby’s, alongside Andy Warhol, Damien Hirst, Jeff Koons and Richard Prince.
(source: Art Price, Feb. 08)

*The French auction house Artcurial, which in September formed a joint-venture with the Chinese group Sun Media, held its first sale in Shanghai on Sunday. Estimated at 40-54 million RMB (3,8 and 4,7 million Euros), the sale of modern and contemporary Chinese art went beyond expectations with a total of 60 million RMB (5,6 million Euros). The lots were mainly bought by Chinese clients, proof of a vigorous Asian market. Indeed, of the 72 pieces presented, only one was left unsold: Night Lifes n°2 by Li Xiaojing.

Here are some links to contemporary chinese art sites:
The Chinese Contemporary
The Goedhuis Contemporary
88-mocca.

Product Pick Of The Week: think/thing's Nestt Child Car Seat

Let me start off by saying I have spelled the name of this product correctly. Sadly, in some other articles and press, the product has been misspelled as "nesst".

Apparently the Nestt by think/thing is presently in production and has been approved by the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards. It must be expensive because it's falling into the 'luxury' category as stated by both the designers and other reviews.

In addition to its organic modern egg design, the Nestt uses a steel safety cage in its skeleton with memory foam cushions that clearly provides enormous side-impact protection for young children.

For the "I'm-so-hip-I'm-bordering-on-space-age" baby!





Learn more about it here.

2013 UPDATE: Sadly this never came to fruition and Think Thing seems to have disappeared.

Four Fabulously Fun Finds For The Home

The Archangle Floor lamp in Bilbao pattern ( traditional gothic stained window) or Rio (colorful modern abstract pattern). Screenprinted polyester fits over a standing floor lamp with a white matte metal base. From Sipure Design.



The Inside Outside Cabinet. A wall mounted composite medicine cabinet from Authentics. In bright yellow, it has line art of bottles and items you find in a bathroom or medicine cabinet, only printed on the outside. Available here.


Salt and Pepper in One by Munire Kirmaci, 2006
Sharing the same housing this holds both your salt and your pepper in one simple modern object. Tilt one end to dispense salt and the other for pepper. Made of stainless steel and rubber plugs.



Available in the male for or female form, these classical busts called ART relic's are coated in a chalkboard finish so you can graffiti them as you like! Made by Seletti, they come in a limited number and arrive in a crate, just like a real relic. I LOVE them!
Buy the Art relic busts here.

At 395$ A Bottle, You Won't Be Beer-Bonging This Brew.

Above: Bottles of Vintage Nr. 1 sell for $395 USD and have 4 different labels designed by Frans Kannik.

Danish brewery, Jacobsen Brewhouse (owned by Carlsberg), has produced the most expensive beer in the world. The crown jewel has been named Vintage Nr. 1, and comes corked and wax-sealed in a slender, misty green bottle, just like a bottle of vintage champagne.



The unique brew, named Vintage Nr. 1, possesses a complex mix of flavors; with hints of prunes and port, the beer also has a distinct smoky caramel and vanilla aroma.


Above: The beautiful packaging


Only 600 bottles have been brewed and in a very short time the expensive brew has become a hot topic among international beer connoisseurs and journalists alike.

Vintage No.1 has, as the only contemporary beer, been matured in J.C. Jacobsen's original crypt-like cellar from 1847, for six months in new Swedish and new French oak barrels. "The project started as a wild idea and a wish to create a new type of beer that had never been seen before. During the aging process in new barrels, lots of chemical processes take place. Not all reactions are known but they taste wonderful", says Jens Eiken, Head Brewer at Jacobsen.

The beer will be sold mainly through three up-scale restaurants in Copenhagen, Denmark.


Above: each label is a hand stilled litho depicting Danish Fables


Each bottle of Jacobsen Vintage No. 1 is labeled with an original hand stilled lithographic print made by the Danish artist Frans Kannik. The prints depict fables of Sif. Sif was married to the Nordic god Thor, who was often used by Carls Jacobsen as a symbol of strength. 


Above: Artist Frans Kannik

Beer Facts (from the brewery):

•The Jacobsen Vintage No. 1 is a barley wine with an ABV on 10.5%

•The grists contain Maris Otter pale ale malt, Maris Otter Imperial malt and caramel malt. Invert sugar is added during the four hours wort boiling as well as bittering hops, in the shape of Challenger and Target, and aroma hops in the shape of Bramling Cross and Fuggles.

•The beer is fermented at 25°C with English ale yeast.

•The beer is matured in new Swedish (the oak is from Hjo in the middle of Sweden and the barrel is bought through Thorslundkagge) and new French barrels (Cote dór barrels) for six month.

•The beer has flavours of vanilla, smoke, caramel and port from maturing on Swedish or French Cote dór oak casks. The bitterness is soft and intriguing.

•During the production and aging of a barley wine, Maillard reactions are continuously caused which adds caramel, nut and yeast aromas to the beer.

•In Jacobsen Vintage, you can taste different personalities in the beer in the form of Maillard, Schiff, Amador and Strecker.
(source: carlsberg group)

Wanna buy a bottle? go here.

Your Toast Will Have To be Worthy: Diamonds In Glass

We've seen them in rings, in ears, in noses, nipples and teeth. And now...in glass.

Friends With You & Santogold Have A Tickle Party!

Film and animation by Friends With You.
Music by Santogold.

Learn more about it here on Zune-Arts.

And don't forget to check out the downloads, lots of fun screensavers wallpaper and icon sets from Friends With You on Zune. Even Valentine's cards to download and print out!

See it all here.

The New Yorker's Eustace Tilley Gets A Makeover

 

Above: Rea Irvin's original Eustace Tilley as he first appeared on the cover 

 Recently, New Yorker Magazine held a contest asking readers to redefine Eustace Tilley, the magazine’s presiding dandy. They received nearly three hundred ideas, from the erotic to the pontifical (their words).

The Adi Dassler Stop Motion Animated Film For Adidas

Adidas has created a wonderful little microsite that includes this charming stop motion animation film about the founder of Adidas by Stink TV's Martin Krejci. The site was built by 180 Amsterdam Digital.

Enjoy.


Don't forget to visit the whole site and poke around...

Not A Shiny Happy Couple? Valentine's Gifts For The Rest Of Us

Think Cupid is Stupid? You're not alone.

Valentine's Day isn't all hearts and candy for everyone. With the single population higher than ever, divorce rates increasing and those whose hearts are on the mend, here are some products for those who'd rather celebrate the St. Valentine's Day Massacre than the holiday.

From "Go Intercourse Yourself" lip balm to the Unwedding Ring, the dejected, dumped, divorced and dysfunctional deserve to get a gift on feb. 14th too.

Just click on the image below and you'll be taken to the place of purchase.

A Case of Unrequited Love:New York Doesn't Heart Gucci.

In a ridiculous turn of events, Gucci's latest campaign to launch their flagship store in Manhattan is under fire from New York City officials for using the I heart NY slogan.



Read on: Gucci "Loves" New York, But City Not Returning Sentiment
By Margaret Brennan

The relationship was renewed only three days ago and yet Gucci's love affair with NY is already hitting a stumbling block. New York City's Empire State Development Corporation (ESDC) is challenging Gucci's use of the 'Gucci (loves as symbolized by a heart) New York' slogan on its new limited edition bags.

Why? The ESDC is the economic development arm for the State of New York and it owns the trademark to the marketing campaign "I (love as symbolized by a heart) New York." They did not give Gucci permission to use the slogan. Gucci's CEO already met with the agency and negotiations are continuing this week. Take a look at the Gucci campaign here.

Gucci designed around 600 of the bags to commemorate the opening of its 46,000 square foot NY flagship. The proceeds from all sales will go to the Playground Partners Central Park Improvement Program. In other words, Gucci [owned by PPR which trades in France] doesn't financially benefit from the design itself. They do hope that the NY-store exclusive would help drive traffic to the new flagship.

Kinda makes me Not Heart New York.

The 50th Grammy Run Down. Complete with pics.

If you didn't watch last night's GRAMMY awards, you missed an amazing production, rare performances and moving tributes. Basically, you screwed up.



A lot of people probably tuned in to see Amy Winehouse and Kanye (given their being nominated in several categories as well as the recent press surrounding her 'problems' and his 'loss') and stayed to see what was an incredible evening of music, legends, and basically, history in the making.

With more greats from various music genres (from Motown to the Beatles to opera) than have ever before sung under one roof ..... coupled with impressive set designs, special pyrotechnics, choreography and material, it was a night to feel the hair stand up on the back of your neck and send chills down your spine more than once. More than twice, even.

It wasn't all perfection of course...
there were some bad outfits, some mumbling lyrics, some bizarre duos, and some repetitive rap, but overall, a three and a half hour music extravaganza.

To see a Beatles Tribute accompanied by an aerialist with the trippy artistry of Cirque du Soliel, Kanye's personal and moving performance to his "mama", powerhouses like Tina Turner, Aretha, Alicia Keys, Beyoncé, being matched by skinny white women who can belt it out like Winehouse, Fergie, and Underwood, AND a tear-jerking tribute to Luciano Pavarotti in one show is pretty unusual. Not to mention the trio of Little Richard, Jerry Lee Lewis and John Fogarty sharing the stage.

Amy Winehouse won five awards, including Record Of The Year and Song Of The Year for her now-prophetic "Rehab," while Kanye West took home four, including the Best Rap Album award for Graduation, though Album Of The Year eluded him for the third time.

I've compiled a bit of a rundown for you, complete with pics from the AP.


Above: Herbie Hancock, longtime jazz great, takes home the Album of the Year award for his tribute to Joni Mitchell, River: The Joni Letters.


Above: Amy Winehouse didn't get her Visa in time to be in the states for the GRAMMY AWARDS so she performed live from London in all her fabulous white trash glory. She performed "You Know I'm No Good," and followed it up with the megahit "Rehab" in her inimitable style. It was not a disappointment.


Above: Ex American Idol Carrie Underwood sluttin' it up with her GRAMMY-winning hit, "Before He Cheats," with the balls-out delivery for which she has become known.


Above: A blast from the 1980's past, Morris Day and The Time (a Prince protégé from long ago) joined with hip-hop diva Rihanna, who sang her smash hit "Umbrella". The Time brought up the rear, reprising "Jungle Love" as energetically as they had decades ago.


Above and below: Surreal, trippy and frankly, verging on scary, Cirque du Soleil's performance to the Beatles' classic "A Day In The Life" was a very different type of show for the GRAMMY awards, but was captivating. Where else does one see an aerialist interpreting a song by the Fab Four?


Above: The freaky deaky dance troupe performed over the Liverpudlian's original track, followed by an equally stunning version of "Let It Be," by Timothy T. Mitchum and Carol Woods.


Above: Kanye West and German techno twins Daft Punk delivered with a techno-hop rendition of "Stronger." As flames blasted behind him, West donned some high tech glowing glasses and clothes.

And how cool was that DJ scratching? (I couldn't find a pic!)
Daft Punk scratched video screens (worthy of an entire post on the technology) while Kanyé changed his outfit for a 'toned down' tribute to his 'Mama.'



Above: West sang "Hey Mama," accompanied by a huge string section. Singing with obvious emotion, his performance left most viewers and audience members welling up.


Above: John Legend, together with the Black Eyed Peas' Fergie, performed her ballad, "Finally" in a very likable chanteuse, torchy singer sort of way. Some critics were disappointed she didn't sing one of her five hit solos or that Legend didn't sing with her.

Cher was there, surgically taut as ever, and she introduced none other than the fabulous Miss Tina Turner.


Above: Looking friggen amazing, Turner belted out "What's Love Got To Do With It." Beyoncé then paired up with Tina for the Creedence Clearwater Revival classic, "Proud Mary."Beyoncé and Turner kept the audience rockingwith their tight bodies, voices and moves.


Above: the Foo Fighters, backed by the GRAMMY Philharmonic Orchestra (led by Led Zeppelin's bassist John Paul Jones) performed "The Pretender" on an outdoor stage. Dave Grohl was in fine form- even if he does desperately need a haircut.


Above: Country singer Brad Paisley gave us "Ticks". A bizarre but catchy song about checking your woman for lyme disease. The blinking neon ticks that bounced around behind him on the set had to be an industry first.

Moving into the spiritual, Ludacris introduced Aretha and BeBe Winans as a "holy rolling [and] soul sanctifying" special gospel performance.


Above: Aretha Franklin and BeBe Winans sang "Never Gonna Break My Faith," accompanied by a light beaming from a glowing cross overhead. The million trombone band Madison Bumble Bees joined on "You Brought The Sunshine," followed by the Clark Sisters and Trin-I-Tee 5:7. Then, Israel & New Breed summoned the spiritual forces with the soaring "With Long Life." To wind it up, Franklin and the whole gospel cast united to sing "Old Landmark."


Above: Big-band singer Keely Smith joined with Kid Rock and GRAMMY-nominated Dave Koz to perform "That Old Black Magic."

Stevie Wonder introduced the President's Merit Award to Motown founder Berry Gordy, and then sang his own little accoustic intro from Alicia Keys "No One" prior to introducing her own performance of the song.


Above: Playing a second keyboard near the stage's edge, Keys continued to raise the temperature before giving way to John Mayer and his frenetic, melodic guitar solo.

Lang Lang and Herbie Hancock joined forces for George Gershwin's masterpiece "Rhapsody In Blue." Accompanied by a full orchestra, the pianists took turns stating the song's melodic themes. The song's majestic middle section included brief solos from various orchestra members before the focus returned to Lang Lang and Hancock.


Above: After an In Memoriam segment that paid honor to musicians we lost in 2007, Andrea Bocelli and Josh Groban (remember him from Ally Mc Beal??) appeared on stage to honor the memory of Luciano Pavarotti with Bocelli's signature "The Prayer". Outstanding.


Above: John Fogerty, Jerry Lee Lewis and Little Richard shared the stage as the evening was winding down. Beginning with a new Fogerty composition, "Comin' Down The Road," these three Rock Legends performed with the spotlight on Lewis, singing his classic boogie-woogie blowout, "Great Balls Of Fire." (I did worry for a second that he might forget the lyrics). Not to be outdone, Little Richard, launched into the instantly recognizable falsetto vocals of "Good Golly Miss Molly." The audience clearly loved it.


Above: Ringo Starr, the only one of the two living fab four members, was there looking every bit his groovy self and got giggles from the audience when he introduced himself (as if we don't know who he is).


Above: Feist, the singer that Mac built, performed an accoustic version of "1234" the song made famous by an ipod commercial. It was a refreshing indie peformance, lacking all the crazy LED lighting and sensory overload that accompanied much of the rock performances.

See an entire list of the nominees and winners in each of the 101 categories here.


Buy the 2008 Grammy Nominees album here.