Mutated green muffin head piece and costume at Pulse. Photograph AFC
Does the presence of some dude wearing a green biomorphic head piece indicate a healthier art market than we think? Who knows, but it does tell us one thing: The Miami fairs are still robust enough to attract the art freaks. Tomorrow no doubt I will have an Eva and Adele story to report.
Meanwhile dealer gossip from Pulse tells me that sales have been slow but for a few galleries. It’s too bad, because it’s clear these exhibitors have brought their A-game to Miami this year in response to more cautious buying. This is just early speculation, but a possible aesthetic divide that could emerge out of this new economic climate is the distinction between fairs that fall too far on the side of “playing it safe”, verses those who pull out all the right stops. The other, more nerve wracking version of this story is the one where all the right stops are pulled, but to no avail. Art Basel opens this morning so I’ll have more to report once I’ve made the rounds there.
Also expect a full review on Pulse within the next two days.
{ 6 comments }
I suppose you can glean from the freaks that people are still attending. One thing that it would be interesting for you to report on is the relationship between attendance and sales. I had an opportunity to go this year and opted not to. I wonder if many others, like me, aren’t interested in observing people struggling to make back their booth fees.
I’m also really interested in this question of “playing it safe” vs. being more risky. It seems like they are both responses to the crisis, and I’m keen to know which will work better. The same thing has been happening in gallery shows I’ve noticed. Some dealers are bringing out their heavy hitters and having them make paintings, while others are giving some space to their video artists or conceptual installation artists.
I wish there was more transparency so we could analyze all the data that must be out there. I’m sure that information could teach the dealers a thing or two.
http://www.contemporaryartdaily.com
I suppose you can glean from the freaks that people are still attending. One thing that it would be interesting for you to report on is the relationship between attendance and sales. I had an opportunity to go this year and opted not to. I wonder if many others, like me, aren’t interested in observing people struggling to make back their booth fees.
I’m also really interested in this question of “playing it safe” vs. being more risky. It seems like they are both responses to the crisis, and I’m keen to know which will work better. The same thing has been happening in gallery shows I’ve noticed. Some dealers are bringing out their heavy hitters and having them make paintings, while others are giving some space to their video artists or conceptual installation artists.
I wish there was more transparency so we could analyze all the data that must be out there. I’m sure that information could teach the dealers a thing or two.
http://www.contemporaryartdaily.com
I suppose you can glean from the freaks that people are still attending. One thing that it would be interesting for you to report on is the relationship between attendance and sales. I had an opportunity to go this year and opted not to. I wonder if many others, like me, aren’t interested in observing people struggling to make back their booth fees.
I’m also really interested in this question of “playing it safe” vs. being more risky. It seems like they are both responses to the crisis, and I’m keen to know which will work better. The same thing has been happening in gallery shows I’ve noticed. Some dealers are bringing out their heavy hitters and having them make paintings, while others are giving some space to their video artists or conceptual installation artists.
I wish there was more transparency so we could analyze all the data that must be out there. I’m sure that information could teach the dealers a thing or two.
http://www.contemporaryartdaily.com
I think it is Russian artist Andrey Bartenev in the picture?
I think it is Russian artist Andrey Bartenev in the picture?
I think it is Russian artist Andrey Bartenev in the picture?
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