A new model for investment in the art market: Divide the painting into "stock" trading?

If you can't afford a painting of a famous artist, you can buy a "stake" in one corner of the painting. To convert an art work into a certain amount of shares as a listed company to carry out "equity" transactions is becoming the most controversial new model in the art market.

Chinese and French patterns are similar

This novel scene unexpectedly occurred in China and France. On December 12th last year, Chinese contemporary artist Huang Gang’s "Red Star and Box Series" and "Quote Tree Lime Tree Series" and other works were divided into 2,500 copies issued on the Shanghai Cultural Property Exchange and became "Art No. 1". . A gallery owner told reporters on the phone last night that at the beginning of the issue, it was RMB 25 per copy. I heard that there has been a considerable increase recently.

Following Shanghai, the "Wenzhou Exchange (Cultural Art Exchange)" has appeared in Shenzhen, Tianjin and Zhengzhou. Not long ago, Tianjing painter Bai Gengyan’s Chinese painting “The Yellow River West to Determine Kunlun Roaring Thousand Miles Touching the Longmen” was valued at RMB 6 million with a circulation of 6 million copies; his “Yan Saiqiu” valued RMB 5 million with a circulation of 5 million copies.

Interestingly, French company A&F Markets has launched an "art trade" this year that uses art as an investment tool and is bought by shareholders based on their share. Two of the most important works are Sol Levitt's work and the work of Francisco Vizzoli. Levitte's work is divided into 11,000 copies and sold for 10 euros each, for a total price of 110,000 euros; Vizri's Never-acted Actress is divided into 13500 copies, each price Like the former, the total price is 135,000 Euros.

Can be transferred after purchase

They operate in much the same way. Take Huang Steel from the Shanghai Cultural Property Exchange as an example, the Shangdi Art Center with its works was promoted to the Shanghai Cultural Exchange, which was authorized by the Exchange and authorized the Art Center as the administrator. The Art Investor Club under the Exchange is available for sale, and the Art Investor Club members can transfer each other after the subscription. According to the French “art trade” founder, the artwork that enters its trading system will remain in the market until one collector buys all the shares.

Market trends toward the public

Such art trading methods have caused concern and controversy in the industry. But there are still quite a few galleries, auction houses, and collectors who trade in traditional ways. They haven’t figured out what’s going on. Many of them are dismissive and think that instead of buying a painting stock, they might as well buy the complete works directly. However, supporters believe that in the past, the art market was confined to those who had both professional knowledge and financial resources to enter the trade. It was a niche market. This new method is now conducive to more people involved in the art market. Although it is only part of the "share" of the whole work, it will also encourage buyers to understand the art in depth. What's more, whether the art is sold as a whole or whether it is sold as "shares", so long as it does not violate the law, people are free to trade.

Authenticity is hard to distinguish

The worrying view is that the art market has been fiercely hyped, especially for those artists who are still alive. As a result, it will become even more hype. It is also critical how the “listed” artwork is valued. It is no secret in the industry that alive artists are speculating on their own prices at auctions. How does the Wenxuan distinguish which of the art auctions it reviews are true and which are false? It is suggested that the SSE chooses “marketing” art works that have been “conclusive”, which is less risky. But this also involves the identification of the authenticity of the work.

The trend of the financialization of works of art, from the past on paper, to practical operation and exploration today, is a time when non-efficacy is far from reaching a conclusion. It is only hoped that the operators will have a deeper understanding of the characteristics of art and the complexity of the art market. They should not really use the art as a stock speculation, or be used by speculators as a propaganda, manufacturing quotation, and misappropriation of money. Another means.