Interview c Beyeler Foundation director and president of Samuel Keller, Art Basel

[LCR]

"Latest news Alsace"
Serge Hartmann


It was his in 2008, Ernst Beyeler chose to guide his prestigious Fund, have since 1997 in the vicinity of Basel. Samuel Keller, who is also president of Art Basel, the 41 th edition of which will open its doors next week, is an indispensable actor of the art market.

Has the work of the Foundation Beyeler after his death in February of this year?

- No, because it is progressively reduced their involvement and has taken steps to ensure that the Fund continues fuektsionirovat after his disappearance. This fund was a matter of life by Ernst Beyeler and his wife, Hildy. But his disappearance is really felt by us, the people working in the Fund as a kind of strangeness, abnormality: we are accustomed to, that he came to us. His death left an empty feeling ...

Читать дальше... 

U Beyeler had no direct heirs. What will happen to the gallery and, in particular, with its phenomenal run-off?

- Legal probate has not yet completed and will last at least another year. But the gallery does not necessarily closed. While she continues to work, organizes exhibitions, manages its wastewater ... managing the gallery has worked with Ernst Beyeler during 30 years, she knows his business. However, the gallery - it is always something very personal, it reflects man's relation to art shows that this man defends what he wants to move and show.

Ernst Beyeler came from a very modest environment in the beginning of his way, he absolutely knew nothing about art. Is it possible at the present time to imagine such a fate, given the changes on the art market, the fact that the market was the scene of major fighting Finance?

- His life quite unusual. He was never in a hurry, he always found time to meet with artists, he learned all his life - uchilasya buy, studied wait! That's how he was able to build their careers and acquire capital, which allowed him to continue his "ascension". Buying the work for 20000 dollars and waiting until the quotation of the artist rises, sometimes reaching a million dollars or more, you will inevitably become a major actor of the art market.

In the 80 years the state of Ernst Beyeler was estimated at millions of dollars just because he used all possible 50-60-ies. In the 70-ies of this phenomenon is even more intensified. Works acquired during this period were sold in the 90 years with incredible profits ...

Yes, but now the market has become much more spektslyativnym and inflationary. How to start a career in this world without seeding?

- It's true, by today neobzhodim pretty impressive start-up capital, and hope for the phenomenal multiplication of capital, as happened to Ernst Beyeler, is not necessary. In addition, the creation of works of art becomes more and more, this is some kind of madness: the young artist making works cost of 100000 dollars, making the work Jeff Koons is even more expensive - buying such works, it is better to be sure of their choice without fear of risk and have sufficient financial surface ...

Can I say that the financial crisis has little to reduce the temperature buyers of art? Judging by public auction, the race for records pricing continues.

- A year ago, nobody was sure in the future, but for now, this period seems to be over. Major collectors have lost a lot of money and preferred to wait. Art Market subjected to strong pressure. However, if he has fallen in comparison with 2007, it must be remembered that the boom of previous years was so strong that it is lowering the market is quite impossible to consider a free fall. Market reaches the level 2005/2006.
Still, I have the impression that most of the speculators left the market ...

Can you explain the resilience of the art market to the financial crisis that public museums and private collectors are fighting for every significant work for sale?

- Yes, of course. It does not take a single year without opening of any new museum. However, these new museums have to be filled with something. Each major collector wants to create his own museum - for example, our neighbor Frieder Burda. You have in France is François Pinault and Arnault Berner. The globalization of the art market is also a determining factor. During Zhrnsta Beyeler everything was easier. Now, with the appearance on the market an interesting job, you are competing not only with Americans and other Europeans, but also with some rich Chinese art collector, with a Brazilian millionaire or a sheikh who wish to give himself credibility ...

Is the Foundation Beyeler participate in this competition? But perhaps you think that you have collected enough, and so attractive collection?

- Our collection is already very attractive, but we're not going to abandon the new purchases! We recently bought a magnificent sculptures from Oceania and the work of Roy Lichtenstein. Our rule, which established the Ernst Beyeler - things always get the highest quality.

You - President of Art Basel. Do not you think that the rapid development of auction houses hurts prestigious galleries? They say that the galleries are all struggling a first-class works of art, because they all go on public sale ...

- Auction house really became extremely active on the art market, their influence has increased significantly. But to conclude that the marginalization of the galleries is wrong and in any case premature! Do galleries have the advantage, unachievable or Sotheby's, not Christie's - Privacy ... a masterpiece that had been put on public auction, immediately "zasvechivaetsya" The whole little world of art in the end finds out the buyer's name, location of work ... We must not forget that some collectors want to preserve the full anonymity, and are willing to pay for this "service".

Numerous works of high quality are sold without the knowledge of the press and the professional art market. When the man Shagabschy "Giacometti was sold for 104 million dollars, everywhere saying that this is the most expensive work of art in the world. But I personally know two works acquired in the gallery over the past three years, for which the price exceeds the price of Giacometti. Recently, I spoke by phone with one major Marchand, who told me that he also knows the work, sold more than this Giacometti.

What do you think about St'arte (St'art), Strasbourg our fair of contemporary art?

- I've never been on it, despite the fact that I love Strasbourg. Comments about this fair was not very good ( smiles shyly ). First, I sent her employees ... And then, realizing her level, he stopped. It is still very much "regional" fair ...

[SergeiSK]

Сообщение от LCR

41 th edition of which will open its doors next week

16 June in Switzerland, an exhibition-fair "Art Basel - 2010," reports Bloomberg. It is considered the largest art fair XX-XXI centuries.
On the first day of the event have been sold a sculpture of Picasso "character" (Personnage, 1960) - for it gave $ 15 million. In addition, several works were sold by the French sculptor Louise Bourgeois, who died May 31 at 99 th year of life. Among the most valuable works presented in Basel - lifetime cast bronze sculptures of Alberto Giacometti's "Three Steps person I" (1948-1950). His estimate of $ 25 million.
On 41 th Fair "Art Basel" represented 36 countries, 303 galleries and 2500 artists. Experts note that the depreciation of the euro against the dollar should encourage guests to purchase from outside Europe. In 2009, the exhibition attracted a record number of visitors - 61,000, and a good sale pointed to post-crisis recovery of the art market.
"Art Basel" will run until 20 June.
(Lenta.Ru)