Bo Knatson: "Is art dealer - this is not a profession, it's a lifestyle"

[Евгений]

CINOA (Confederation Internationale des Negociants en Oeuvres d'Art) - The International Confederation of Associations of art dealers - was founded in 1935. At the moment it includes 29 national associations from 19 countries, and the number of its members is equal to 5 thousand CINOA main activities are in support of the members of the confederation, establishment of common terminology antique legislation, fight for the relief of the rules of export and import of objects of art, education activities . Since 1976 CINOA presents a special award art historians for his outstanding contribution to the preservation of cultural heritage in the countries - members of CINOA.

Interview of President CINOA Bo Knatsona.

- Mr. Knatson, for what, in your opinion, art dealers need to form associations?

Читать дальше... 

- Antique Company, as a rule, very small, and difficult for them to do something meaningful for the whole market. Consolidation is necessary, for example, for the organization of major international and national exhibitions, when antiquarians easier to act together, they can do more than each on its own. Moreover, it is important that art dealers have a good reputation and could conduct an examination. For this purpose someone should check. When art dealers united in an association, they both watch each other, it stimulates them, supports the image. If my gallery has a certain specialization, and asking me to proekspertirovat things that this specialization does not, I can always turn to my colleagues in the association, because I trust them. Moreover, we live in a big world where there are active sales via the Internet. For example, recently so I had a client in South Africa. The modern world needs an international network of art dealers, who can be trusted.

- How often in CINOA there are new members and what requirements must meet the national associations to be accepted in CINOA?

  - Over the past 10 years in CINOA entered Poland, Czechoslovakia and the two countries from South Africa. We had a problem with Spain, where the association has a very long time, but it split into two parts, between which were not very friendly relations. Recently, they finally decided their internal problems and become our members. In order to join the CINOA, any association must send us a request, code, supported by its members, as well as recommendations from foreign colleagues. All documents are thoroughly checked and reviewed our governance. After that, the general meeting of members of the final decision. Russia Confederation of antiquarians and art dealers now just applying for a general meeting of its issue will be held in late June.

- How great a chance of being adopted by the Confederacy?

  - After that I was able to see for those days spent in Russia, I think the chances are great. In particular, when I read the code, which is the Confederation of Russia, I was delighted that you are so quickly learned the lessons of European countries, where the market is developing for centuries.

  - If Russia will take in CINOA, on what assistance can we expect?

  - First, we try to support and make it easier for Russian art dealers communicate with government organizations, in particular, on issues of import-export of cultural property, to make the rules less stringent. All art-dealers will be represented in catalogs and online CINOA, that affect the development of their business. Many immigrants from Russia living abroad and are often looking for items of Russian art through the Internet, so that Russian art dealers will be many new contacts.

- Now in Russia acute matter expertise, we are trying to find a way out of this crisis. Confederation, for example, has introduced a new form of certification experts. And who are the experts CINOA?

  - We do not have any special list of experts. Any dealer who is a CINOA, already an expert. There are several groups of different specializations, and each member can give advice. All of our members as experts collaborate with museums and educational centers. It is important that all members of CINOA working with antiques for many years, and often it is the whole dynasty, who pass on their experience in families. For example, we have a very good judge of Cezanne and Van Gogh, he is now 70 years old, it even works with the Van Gogh Museum, publishes books on his work, ekspertiruet things, preparing the exhibition. The same is attended by his parents, he grew up among these works, studied them as a child. As for Russian art dealer, then as soon as the picture will start to specialize in narrow fields of art, art dealers will eventually become experts.

  - Does CINOA experts in Russian art?

  - Yes, for example, the New York gallery A la vielle Russie, which works with the Russian silver, jewelry, Faberge products. There are dealers in Germany and the United States, working with painting, there are experts on the Russian avant-garde. But it is difficult to find an expert on Russian art of XVIII-XIX century, because it is precisely the Russian style and does not cause interest among Western collectors and art dealers.

  - One of the tasks CINOA - create and maintain a positive image of the profession antiquary, just something that is beating Russia's art dealers. What do you do for this?

  - We organize exhibitions, organize public lectures. Private Gallery invites, for example, several specialists and makes a series of lectures on a topic, which specializes. We must work hard, because the main purpose of art dealers - to save the heritage and its transfer to subsequent generations. We must tell and show how you can save it, publish books, which remain for a long time, that you can always come back, remember that this gallery deserves attention and respect. I saw on Rossiyskom antique cabin that many galleries publish catalogs, it is very important. Still, in addition to Russia's market requires time, because he was too young.

  - Tell us about your personal interests in art?

- I am interested in two main directions in art. The first - a Scandinavian Painting 1910-1930's, when many artists living in Paris, Berlin and worked there, and very interesting to trace the cultural context. The second section - historical objects XVI-XVIII centuries. I was hoping to find ones that interest me, things that, for example, belonged to the Scandinavian kings, the Rossiyskom antique interior, but still saw nothing. Being an art dealer - this is not a profession, it's a lifestyle. When you start doing it, it becomes like a disease, and you can not stop, so many things interesting.

[Admin]

Interesting interview, Eugene, thank you! Where was it published?

[qwerty]

Bo Knatson came to the opening of the last antique salon in CDH, there and gave this interview. Incidentally, Russia and the Confederation of Antiquaries artdilerov already adopted in CINOA.

[Meister]

and how you feel coming into this confederation deystvitelno something to give Russian art market? or our porridge is not compatible with they are even presented? )))

[Евгений]

Сообщение от Admin

Where was it published?

He was invited to
XXIV Rossiyskogo antique salon, but where it was published?, Find write (as long as he wrote, had already responded)

[color="# 666686"]Added after 3 minutes[/color]

Сообщение от Meister

something to give Russian art market?

It is difficult to say, but one day we become more civilized.

[Meister]

Think Western colleagues help? not sure, but let's see .... we (the majority of dealers or galeristvo) mentality is different: hapanut as much as possible at a time, without considering the consequences

[Евгений]

Сообщение от Eugene

rules to facilitate export and import of objects of art

For Russian art dealers is probably the main problem, its solution certainly will greatly benefit Russia's art market.
p.s. Yes, art dealers while ignoring the forum, strangely, the site is the best in Russia ..

[color="# 666686"]Added after 5 minutes[/color]

Сообщение от Meister

think Western colleagues help?

Only one, put pressure on the authorities to the law on export and import, led to a normal form.
  (While in Russia, the law passed back in Stalin and slightly modified in appearance, but in fact Stalin).