Art in pandemic times: a digital Renaissance

Since the start of the pandemic, everyone across all economic sectors has been talking about how to turn the real world into a digital one. The arts are no exception: demand for online solutions is on the rise. Basel's particularly sophisticated digital format allowed a broad public to plunge into the artistic world. For key players in the sector it was almost business as usual, except their meetings with gallery owners, prominent collectors and renowned artists was taking place online. Art Basel Hong Kong served to test the waters. The result? A digital showcase of around 3,000 artworks worth $220 million, 250,000 virtual visitors and, according to some sources, around 80 million dollars in sales. Art Basel in Basel attracted 282 galleries from 35 countries.

In addition to business meetings and larger gatherings, going digital also allowed potential buyers to inspect each artwork in detail. Some examples: gallery owner Stefan Von Bartha had a good chat with Jakob Fenger from SUPERFLEX; live performances were streamed online, like Time by Argentinian David Lamelas, that was revisited 50 years later as an ambitious experiment on the topical themes of subjectivity and the concept of time; monumental works could be visited on Zoom, like the Unlimited Viewing Rooms selected by curator Giovanni Carmine. Brian Boucher, a well-known journalist in the art sector, shared tips on how to buy online and quoted the great Peruvian collector Carlos Marsano: "Collecting is connecting."

The new Basel Online knowns no financial or aesthetic boundaries. Art Basel Global Director Marc Spiegler called it a genuine digital Renaissance. "We know that a digital platform will never replace physical exhibitions, but we still hope to provide as much support as we can to our galleries and their artists while the art world continues to navigate turbulent waters," he says.

Illustrated above, the Art Basel Online viewing rooms in June 2020, between gallery presentations and conversations via zoom (Art Basel).

About 4,000 works could be admired in detail, each with their history and, amazingly enough, their price tag, alongside them. Their total value was $740 million, with each piece ranging anywhere from $500 to $10 million. What we also know, because that’s how things work these days, is that those sales notably included Balloon by Jeff Koons, sold by David Zwirner's gallery for 8 million dollars; Gladstone Gallery sold a Keith Haring for 4.75 million dollars, and a Mark Bradford painting sold by Hauser & Wirth for 5 million. Among the topics discussed in conversations moderated by journalist Melanie Gerlis from The Financial Times, the impact of COVID-19 on the art sector featured prominently and shed some light on the trends afoot in a market that, between art and antiques, was worth approximately $64 billion in 2019, down slightly from $67.4 billion in 2018.

According to Art Market 2020 of Art Basel and UBS report, written by renowned cultural economist Dr. Clare McAndrew, in 2019 sales volume increased by 2% with the number of transactions reaching 40.5 million dollars, the highest in the last ten years. However, on average, while sales went up, the value of the works has been going down.

Auctions account for 42 per cent of total sales ($24.2 billion), with fairs reaching $16.6 billion. The segment of works that sold for more than $10 million shrunk, while online sales were estimated at about $5.9 billion, with new customers and the HNWI Millennials buying online.

While the first part of the year was difficult for all the main players, including major auction houses, today everyone seems ready to roll out new strategies, from innovative formats to private sales, to make the most of what the digital world has to offer. The first to take the digital plunge in the post­emergency phase was Sotheby's on June 29th, a feat orchestrated remotely from London by Olivier Barker and totalling sales of $363 million. The most expensive lot of the evening was Francis Bacon's triptych inspired by Orestes of Aeschylus, that garnered $84.5 million; the 18 lots of tycoon Ginny Williams alone brought in $65.5 million; also worth noting were Roy Lichtenstein's White Brushstroke I that sold for $27 million, and a sculpture by Donald Judd for $9.8 million. These are encouraging signs for a post-COVID scenario, but certainly still far from the heights of the past when a single sale at Sotheby's in May 2019 exceeded $300 million.

The market is evolving rapidly, but at different speeds in different places. Worth noting, for example, are the figures for Wannenes Art Auction 2020. Guido Wannenes, CEO of the auction house, says, “We recorded a 66% increase in total sales in the first quarter in a countercyclical market. In recent months we have been holding auctions for antique and 19th century paintings, watches, jewellery and design. At the moment, there is no shortage of opportunities. Granted, we were used to working online and the pandemic only accelerated a process that was already underway.” Art aside, Wannenes’s auctions also focus on two growing segments: cars and wine. “These are becoming important segments,” he continues. “In cars, collectors are now looking for uniqueness, like the Alfa Romeo 8C. Wines appeal particularly to Far Eastern customers, who appreciate French wines and show a growing interest in the Italian ones too. An investment in wine is always interesting and enjoyable, because even if you’re dissatisfied, you can always drink it,” he chuckles. “Seriously, though, one should buy out of passion, leaving investment considerations for later. According to Coco Chanel, luxury is a necessity that begins where necessity ends. Buying something you care about brings happiness, a feeling that is not quantifiable but that is fundamental in times of great uncertainty."