The London auctions and the giant Miami event are setting a fine example to the Russian art market, says Elena Kuprina, E.K. ArtBureau gallery proprietor/manager. Prominent consulting expert for private collectors, she had an interview with the Moscow-based newspaper Vremya Novostei.
Ms. Kuprina expects contemporary Russian art to gain prominence in the London auctions now that dealers have developed a lively interest in it. The appearance of the MacDougall's, a Russian-oriented auction, proves her point. Great public demand for Russian art makes it necessary to explicitly classify it. That is what the Sotheby's and Christie's are doing. They subdivide their lots in three levels. Everything in the Most Important group was sold out. These were Shukhayev's and Grigoryev's superb portraits, and seascapes by Aivazovsky, who is known as "Russian market barometer". Middling canvases, naturally, were a moderate success.
The young MacDougall's, which was offering Russian emigrant art of the 20th century's beginning, did not care to bring its lots into whatever system and so was an utter failure.
The Art Basel/Miami Beach has lately become the world's largest event for the most advanced art. Dozens of collectors call to see their huge warehouses where they keep in stock works of today's foremost artists. Contemporary art stars appear at seminars and colloquiums that accompany the fair. Its experience is precious for Russian art biz, stresses Elena Kuprina.
