The Changing Environment in Arts Investment


Christie's Art Forum 2015, for Art Fair Philippines 2015 have come into maturity attesting to voluminous  attendee for a nine year old Art Fair Philippines .

The brain child project of trio arts impresario Din Din Araneta, Tricky Lopa, Liza Ongpin Periquet. Today's project came into being after the trio, came upon with the monthly week end tortilla talk about arts in the National Museum , being an officers of the National Museum Foundation formerly headed by Ma. Isabel Ongpin then followed by Mita Rufino. Indeed , the trio partnerships became a full blown arts advocacy . Promoting Philippine arts and cultures to be available to "all Filipino", which culminated in to a more successive staging of " arts in the Park " held annually in Salcedo Park.

From those years of arts journey into what is become today , the Art Fair Philippines 2015 " the best in Philippine Contemporary Art " as being dubbed off is now the  most anticipated calendar of events not only in the Philippine arts aficionado  but through the region of Asia.

Coming to terms with the robust economic development of the Philippines , putting it to the Investment radar of the prestigious arts galleries, curators, artists, arts investors all around the world.It is fitting that alternative investments vehicles like arts investments could be of best options for the discriminating  risk appetite of the Filipino, perhaps Asian investors.

Today's Christie's Art Forum 2015 , as was participated in by Ms. Olivia Yao, art collector and President of " the Modern Reader ", Mr. Sundaram Tagore , Director , Sundaram Tagore Gallery, New York, Honking, and Singapore and Mr. Darryl Wee, Head of Visual Arts, Asia, Blouin Artinfo , and Ms. Shuyin Yang , Asian 20th Century and Contemporary Art Specialist who served as moderator.

In the forum , the equivocal effect of  technology , thus internet as a flat form to mass feed information, access to information have been discuss with scrutiny. Neo phyte collectors,seasonal collectors, could take advantage in forming informed decision necessary in acquiring a piece of arts. However some preferred  it in traditional norms of going out their comfort zone, visiting  arts galleries , sought the advice of the arts gallery owner, curators, or attending arts opening to meet direct in person the artists. By talking direct with the arts professionals investors could get the idea necessary for the goodwill value of arts investments. 

Major considerations for arts investments is the aesthetic  value of the artist works in what ever medium it be , like oil , water, pastel or mex media in canvass  , sculptors, wood, metals, slabs of stone or marbles. Excellent artist creates a formidable integrity in the arts scene either via good sound marketing , hype multi media promotions , or a product of networks build up due to " university " affiliations. The quality of the arts works should be a paramount concern for every arts investors. But not all expensive paintings goes with quality collectibles works to up keep for value accumulation.  Arts investors should primarily know first and fore most the artist reputation and his total commitment in the arts scene. His durable professions and untiring creation for pieces to collect will build a networks of collectors necessary for his works to be culminated for a certain arts awards. The penultimate success of the artist entire professional life is wither he could be attributed an award of " National Artist".

One major consideration for a certain artist works incremental value formation is being featured in the art auction like Christie's , Sothbey's or Leon Arts Auction. 

With all these factors to be in mind. Arts investors should have their own initiative to research or sought and arts consultant independent advice for their fastidious arts investments requirements . 

" we from the gallery people knows and followed a certain artist maturity on their own respective chosen medium and field , so arts fair nor auctions should somehow must coordinate well, in choosing who's works deserves to be  auctioned  especially if its involve enormous amount , because as gallery owner we keep  the artist collections in our catalogues , we keep each artist score cards of performances and achievements, so on the matter of arts works auctions , I think the art gallery owner and arts auctions establishments should talk before hand for a collaborative advice", re interpreting the very essence  of the  question of  Miss Silvana Diaz , gallery owner of Galleria Duemila raise in the just concluded forum of Christie's , one of the highlight sideline event for todays Art  Fair Philippines 2015 , from February 5-8, 2015.

On the matter of national investments sentiments  , which one is the best to prioritise  the national economic infrastructure over the arts scene landscapes  maturity. Both contention is an essential elements that goes hand in hand. A nations with a strong vibrant economy , preceded with a strong dynamic arts scene. All financial capital of the developed  estate like Newark of USA, London of United Kingdom, Tokyo of Japan, Hongkong of  China, Manila of Philippines , India, Singapore,Paris , Germany and Madrid of Europe become a haven of foreign direct investments due to its thriving arts momentum . 

In Japan , according to the Mr. Darryl Wee , head of Visual Arts , asia Blouin Artinfo, small galleries sprouted even in the prefecture ( provinces), that leads to the development of the entire gamut of museums networks nationwide . This was happened even during the Japanese bubble economy in the 1980's. 

The arts circles " industry", should evolve despite of the dictate of the capitalist markets. Creation and innovation could be inspired in what ever period of economic downturns or upheavals. Arts lingers beyond economic narratives because , arts comes from the will , and a product of self determination. It knows  no economic boundaries because it deals also other virtue like the" true , good and the beautiful".

Ms. Olivia Yao, a former banker for twenty two years now consider arts investments as her therapeutic "goodness", that elevates her sense of worth. In fact , she will be launching her pet projects , a luxury coffee table table books featuring the best of the Filipino Contemporary Artist, this coming June 2015. From  banker to arts investment collectors now , she evolve as arts books publisher. 

Mr. Sundaram Tagore high elite arts investors travel all around the world , attending every arts fair because its only not for status symbols for the fear of being not tune with the current happening in the arts scene. With over a hundreds arts fairs, biennale , arts auctions all over the world its mundane for an arts investors to attend personally  those arts happening. However with the presence of the online arts communities , galleries and information available every one have all the amenities of social media like face books, internet , web, to browse information  about arts that is worth investing.

Henry Estipona

Philippines

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