A fully-booked art fair is nothing but the beginning of a successful art fair.
When all the booths are filled and a more-than-expected number of artists sign up, then what else is still missing from this art fair? A fundamental choice is still missing - - Is it the intention of the fair organizer to make A.R.T. 2011 a purely commercial event? Or, is it to present an opportunity for the participating artists to have the honor to exhibit their works side by side with those of the masters? If only once in a lifetime an artist has this footnote: “My works were on display along with those of Rembrandt, Chagall, Miró, and Picasso”, then imagine what a sense of pride it would establish and maintain over the artist’s entire career.
The choice that Art Revolution Taipei has made is to have Miró’s work with its print on display side by side. Those who are in the art business would recognize right away that this is the collecting style of Tate London.
We have also found the only “red print” by Rembrandt that is available. We will have it on display side by side with the identical black print along with a classic oil painting with the same content which is so dazzling. When one sees the signature of Rembrandt on the top and the year “1635”, a picture comes to mind of the master’s hands leaving the final finishing touch 476 years ago - - such a sweet reminicence leaves one feeling moved so deeply.
Picasso’s “final artist’s proof”, Chagall’s masterpiece in his later years, the Guillaumet’s at the Musee d' Orsay, the Vernet’s at the Louvre...... We have not lived until we meet them. This coming May, we’ll all have an “art meeting” with the masters.
Being the Art Director how do I pick a piece of artwork -- in just 20 seconds! This is a simple and, yet, very important math.
The last thing people going to an art fair want to see is a show full of unattractive works. They leave quickly without any hesitation. Some people would like to think that this is a matter of subjective taste and preference, but an art fair is usually organized for the 90% of people who know little about art to come to visit and appreciate, and they are all potential collectors. If the first piece of artwork collected by a new collector happens to be your work, congratulations, then, because next time when this new collector is thinking about making a purchase again, the first name popping up in his/her mind would be yours!
We are planning to exhibit 1200 pieces of artwork at the Art Revolution Taipei 2011. If one would spend 20 seconds watching each and every one of the 1200 works, it would then take him/her seven hours to finish, plus one hour for a break, that’s exactly how long the show is open every day - - eight hours.
If one can’t finish in one day, that’s even better. Because an art fair that attracts people to come back and visit twice without thinking about leaving is definitely a good exhibition!
So artist, your responsibility really is…..To create an artwork that would catch the viewer’s attention for 20 seconds!
“Artist, Your Name Will Be Waving In the Streets of Taipei”
From the Art Basel Miami Beach to the Armory in New York, from the FIAC in Paris to the Frieze in London, we’ve visited all the major art fairs around the world and yet we’ve never seen the names of the artists shown on the banners hung in the street.
Art Revolution Taipei declares to “let the artists be proudly presented before the world.” Each and every banner will show the name of an artist and his/her works! Exactly, it would cost 150 times more to make 150 different prints; however, the crowded streets in Taipei would look a lot more artistic when the names of these artists and their beautiful works are waving in the air. Isn’t it something beautiful and to be proud of? This is art!
Perhaps we are not very calculative financially? Well, aren’t we the art people a bit all like this, and somehow be very proud of it!?
Every artist all want to prove themselves, to say: “Yes, I can!” Yet it would take the artist not only quality and creativity, but also luck to be able to pull it off. Art Revolution Taipei is a stage on which stars shine and collectors hunt, and it is the place where artists from the world over can directly meet the challenge of the market.
This year’s A.R.T. will see a very demanding screening process for the selection of participating artists and their works. We firmly believe that when it comes to art there is no good or bad and there is no right or wrong; but an art exhibition is in and of itself an “enormous piece of art,” so being the art director I would have to make a lot of difficult choices.
Artists come to show their best works and art exhibition presents the best show, in a way we are all trying to prove ourselves - - Yes, we can!
