I was honoured to be invited to interview with Silvia Anna Barrilà for the Art Economy 24 segment of top Italian business and finance newspaper Il Sole 24 Ore.
Ms. Barrilà is an art critic of journalistic pedigree and art fair director, who is a regular contributor to top European publications ArtEconomy 24 and Panorama First.
Translation of my interview:
Title of Article: <The Market is Recovering>
(25th July 2009)
1. Nine months have passed since the Lehman Brothers crash: how has your activity as an art collector changed? Do you look at different artists now?
The industry I’m working in finds itself in the epicenter of the global financial crisis. However, crises potentially afford me opportunity to invest in cheaper but valuable artworks. My attention has shifted toward smaller artworks from emerging rather than the more established artists.
2. Have you decided to sell because of the crisis? What have you sold?
Although my employment status may have been slightly more unsettled than usual, I did not once think about liquidating my collection. Prices are expected to continue to be depressed, so it does not make sense for me to sell my collection now.
3. Your impressions of this year’s edition of the Venice Biennial and of Art Basel?
The relative success of sales at Art 40 Basel shows, in my opinion, that with the right pricing strategy, sales may not have to be compromised greatly.
4. In the era of online information, communities, and social networking how has your collector’s activity been influenced?
In terms of information, I find immense satisfaction in forums, blogs and also twitter, where I get good updates at the touch of a button on my iPhone for example. Christie’s, Sotheby’s, Artnet and of course Independent Collectors are my favourites.
Having my own blog and twitter account helps consolidate all these information as I share and synergize valuable bits and bytes with the online arts community.
5. Who is in your opinion an overvalued and who is an undervalued artist, and why?
Damien Hirst is, in my very humble opinion, overvalued. But this pertains to his installations. I am hoping to see much more value in his return to painting.
6. Your predictions for the art market in the next months?
Emerging South East Asian artists, of whom there are still many to be discovered, are my best bet for the near future
——————————
Grazie, Silvia!
thangdynasty is a work-in-progress maintained by an accidental equity trader whose brief foray into the world of investments turned out… not so brief.
Although unmotivated by the senseless pursuit of money in and for itself, she remains sadistically intrigued by the complex anatomy stealthily at work behind the whole spectrum of Markets – Fine Art, Financial, Fish and Fools.
A budding art collector and supporter of emerging artists, she slogs to prevent collateral damage to her bank account resulting from occasional manic art buying sprees.