Fiac-ing hell!

Woman taking off pants by Julian Opie

It was time to hit the FIAC, the 32nd Edition of the International Contemporary Art Show where 220 galleries were punting their wares.

I think the 17 euros ticket price kept most artists at bay but the Collectors were out in force, wrapped in fur or wearing cowboy hats and all tanned and barking into mobile phones. There seemed to be a lot of Italians and as I know from the Paris property market they seem to have massive spending power right now.

To be honest it seems like the first time I've seen evidence of any serious Collectors in Paris. It may be an amazing city for art and culture in public institutions and museums but the market for contemporary art is extremly weak. And certainly not homegrown. The disposable income here is not at a level of a London, NYC or LA.

Frankly, I have no idea how the mulitude of galleries exist, especially peddling the same old tired format. A vernissage filled with the chattering classes (who rarely purchase) and those after the free booze, an uptight assistant by day sitting by a Mac in a lifeless white cube, snotty treatment of passing custom, wonky opening hours.........

Interesting statistic from a recent study by Artprice : in the U.S., works by artists born after 1960 have an average selling price of 58,607 euros, while in France, works by the new generation go for only 3,023 euros.

What would Gertrude Stein say?

Comments

[la.dauphine]

I saw that stat. I have a hard time believing it, though. Maybe by using NYC as a benchmark but certainly not prices from all of the US! NYC is really where people are buying. Every other US city is a far cry in terms of their markets.

[I V Y paris]

Entendu La daup.I doubt the art market in arkansas kicks much ass