Irina Shalina goes down as the auction house expert McDougall, in which it has been prepared by the December of 2009 and the recent past, the June auction of works of iconography. She announced this Russian Art Media in a telephone interview. We asked her to comment on this decision and to answer questions about the reasons for resignation.
Russian Art Media: What led you to this decision?
Iryna Shalina: Icons are now collecting people a very special sort: officials, businessmen rushing about in search of where to invest money. For them, an icon - no more than a piece of furniture, color spot on the wall.
Since its cooperation with the auction house Makdugalls, have repeatedly stated their intention to become a market leader in the icons, I was hoping things have changed for the better. After all, leadership requires professionalism, the ability to not only sell but also to "educate" the collector, an example of how "right" to evaluate the icon. Over time, however, I realized that my efforts to turn the auction in more than a business, nobody needs. The only thing that worries owners - is profit. Traders - hucksters they are. They are what oranges, excuse me, to trade, that the icons. That is my opinion.
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RAM: How did you get on Makdugalls?
LUN: New to McDougall, I was invited as a consultant on the first auction icons. The auction catalog prepared Mary Pafiti. She was later dismissed, but not for icons, but for some other reason. Inflated prices on the icon in Makdugalls largely instigated it, and rendered the art market and auction house disservice.
RAM: But the results of the auction of its dismissal was not linked?
LUN: Nothing. Catherine (MacDougall - RAM) still thinks that Mary's great to "sell" has been fully in place and that everything would have been nice if either there is some misunderstanding between them. But with the professionalism of Mary is in no way connected. Generally, at McDougall wild staff turnover ...
So, my husband and I arrived before the first auction to view a collection for fakes. A lot of things had to withdraw - as potdelok and icons almost completely rewritten, with complete loss of original painting. Maria this, unfortunately, not spotted. She is an expert on Greek icons. She has a good education, good school, but the Greek icon and an icon of Russian - two big differences. I am a Greek icon attributing never take. There is another technique, other laws of the restoration, style. However, specialists and experts in the West did not consider it (Pafiti - RAM) very seriously and in respect of Greek art ... We are Maria was rescued, cleaned with a fake auction. Another thing is that in the first catalog was a lot more than mediocre things. There's even on the cover of "Patriarch Job" - cropped icon, just a piece, fragment. Price it - three and a half thousand, and it was sold for big money (122,000 USD - RAM). Just because on the cover. That with this MacDougall began its "icon work.
RAM: As the chief expert you have prepared two auctions - December and had just passed, June ...
LUN: You know, to each his conclusion I treated as a doctor for diagnosis. The point of view trying to defend to the last. Incidentally, none of my opinion never professionally anyone in Makdugalls not contested. I believe that every directory should be a serious publication, serve as inputs in a scientific work, and not turn into a waste paper with the last stroke of the hammer. But there were times when I bend my arms, persuaded to agree to dating. So it was with one of the top lots of the December auction, basically - the icon of the 17 th century, but later strongly "finalized". Put it as the 17th, without reservation, in order just to sell. At very high price. I said that to put this under my name I will not, said she'll go.
RAM: But is not left.
LUN: to persuade. We have to hope for something. We - I and my husband Nicholas Zadorozhnyi, who heads the museum of Russian icons in Moscow. He was its director. Luxury private museum, established by Nicholas of the means of the owner (Michael Abramov - RAM) for three years. So, after the first failure (in December 2009 - RAM), he proposed to Catherine (McDougall - RAM), that is, to take up an auction - to sign a contract with us, on which Nicholas will be fully complete it, select the entire auction "repertoire" and I'll deal with attribution expertise. Catherine was happy with this proposal, the treaty was signed. Although it was clear immediately that implement it, it is not going to ...
RAM: What do you mean?
LUN: Before the last, the June auction, I looked through all the things in advance. Some selected for the auction, some not. Arrived in London. And here it turns out that there is a certain batch of icons. Things are not interesting, unreasonably expensive, which, in my opinion, the auction is not the place. And I am forced to describe them and make the directory. Imagine - three days before the catalog goes to print, you receive a dozen icons, three of which - forgery, five - at a price higher than twice, but three - things are very uncertain! Though I must pay tribute to Catherine McDougall: commercial flair it incredible. Of this dozen, four icons were sold. But it's certainly not in this, and that these sales did not match with the level or price.
RAM: Who else is preparing the auction catalog?
LUN: All lots passed through me. Catherine MacDougall, without any consultation with me, took the department Helen Mack Ildo Jenkins. As she said "make directory". It is the hostess, her right to take anyone. Helen - a very good one. The only problem is that she did in the icons do not understand. General. I saw it in half an hour after our acquaintance with her. Example: the June 40th auction catalog. Icons depicting the four evangelists: Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, of whom Mark wrote, called, yesterday. This is obvious. But not for Helen - for her it was a revelation. And so she sits down to "make directory", which orders the photos is unknown, and for some unknown reason. With me does not consult anybody, nor the illustrations, nor the order of placement of things in the catalog ...
I have all the powers invested in it to defend here the phrase in describing the lot: "the lost fragment showing Mark the Evangelist in the restoration was replaced by the new. Although these words would have to be in the title, but not at the end of the text.
RAM: defend, but not completely - in the Internet version of the "replacement" is not a word.
LUN: You see! But the majority looks exactly internet site, rather than a paper catalog!
Moreover, once came to the design of the catalog and there, in the description of the 40th lot, the four paragraphs, there are only two - the first and last. Mid - had vanished. Catherine decided to shorten the text absolutely nothing in the icons do not understand. I'm a professional, not a graduate of the University with three years' work. I work with the best publishers of the world! Once the invited experts, and probably listen to somehow.
RAM: Is that bad?
LUN: I am the one hand, do not want to have everything in a negative light. In the end, Catherine is doing its part, is her "creativity" and its business. But on the other hand, we are talking about the icons - that's what sad. Of course, I try to restrain myself as best I can, do not let the negative. Although I do not always succeed ...
RAM: What do you think is comparable whether the art and business?
LUN: If we - me and Nicholas - made it possible to implement our plans, then the auction would have been wonderful and the view of the auction house McDougall would start to change. I am convinced that the auction should be a meeting place for collectors, experts, experts on the icon. This does not diminish, but rather raise the levels of sales, attract new customers. And, most importantly, help change the opinion of the sale of Russian art.
Interview written by Alexander von Hahn, 06/15/2010
P.S. We turned to MacDougall Arts Ltd. to comment on published material. This comment will be immediately posted on our website.
Date: Wednesday, June 23, 2010 Author: Russian Art Partnership
28.06.2010, 21:32
A leading expert McDougall leaves his post
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