The dynamism of kinetic art

Kinetic art goes back a long way. Its origins – from a multitude of groups and movements – go back to the 1910s and 1920s, an era highly impregnated by the cult of progress and the myth of the machine. Europe, the United States and Latin America were the main cradles for the development of an abstract language that eschewed static art and sought to emulate or trigger movement, whether real or virtual.

Niki de Saint Phalle braves the crisis

After the sale of three Niki de Saint-Phalle’s giant Nanas in Germany in December 2008 for €750,000, the Paris sale last month of her Le Banc produced another excellent result. The French-American artist – whose works are collected all over the world – is generating good sales performances in spite of the crisis.

The New Realists - Six records in six months

During their lifetimes, several New Realists gained considerable recognition in the United States. Their participation in the artistic maelstrom of New York during the 1960-80s partly explains their success at American and British auctions. Pierre Restany, a travelling art critic and polyglot involved in the emergence of the movement, worked towards their promotion in the USA; artist Niki de Saint Phalle, a French-Americain, frequently crossed the Atlantic; Jean Tinguely gained notoriety with his Homage to New-York, a cacaphonic happening at the MOMA in 1960 whose apotheosis was its intended self-destruction. The following year, Arman exposed for the first time in New-York, while Leo Castelli, a dealer of Warhol, Lichtenstein and Rauschenberg, opened his gallery to Yves Klein.

The speculative bubble in the art market reaches its peak in November 2007

The art market recorded a 7th consecutive year of price rises in 2007. The annual increase at global level amounted to +18%. It was accompanied by Fine Art proceeds of USD 9.2 billion, an increase of 43.8% over the year, swelled by the proliferation of million-ticket sales, auction hammers having come down on 1,254 sales of over USD 1 million in 2007, compared with 810 in 2006. 2006 had already recorded an unprecedented number of transactions and 2007 was an exceptional vintage.

New Realism

New Realism is in favour this year: following the tribute to Yves Klein at the Georges Pompidou centre which closed last February, the whole movement is the subject of an exhibition in the Paris Grand Palais, running until 2 July, 2007. Prices for the New Realists have risen by more than 120% since 2000. However, these artists’s works are still valued some 30% below the price levels achieved in 1989-1990.

Contemporary art from Switzerland

The "new Swiss artistic scene" started to appear in museums and the major auction houses towards the end of 1990s.
Switzerland has been the breeding ground of major contemporary artists like Jean TINGUELY , BEN , Niele TORONI and Felice VARINI . Collectively these artists experimented with new materials, produced interesting results from mixing art with life (and vice-versa), and generally broadened our fields of perception. Since then, other artists have caught our attention by using video and creating protean and uninhibited installations.

FIAC 2005: The French contemporary art market

From 6 to 10 October, Paris will celebrate the 32nd edition of the FIAC (Foire Internationale d'Art Contemporain). The giant Porte de Versailles exhibition complex will house 227 gallery stands, 99 of which are due to be French. In addition, a number of Parisian auctions houses have organised sales of excellent selections of contemporary art to coincide with the event. The day after the Fiac's opening celebrations, Sotheby's will be offering part of a collection belonging to the Durand-Dessert gallery. On 8 October, the auction house Cornette de Saint-Cyr will be selling 179 works, including an important selection from the Fondation Veranneman Collection.

Contemporary Art Auction in Paris focused on New Realists

On 19 April, the auction house Cornette de Saint Cyr well be the venue for a major auction of contemporary art dedicated to the New Realists and entitled "The 'New Realists', Contemporary Art, Banque Worms Collection". This is not the first time.

POP ART made in France

Although pop art has so far only reached its full potential in the United States, the movement also has roots in Europe. Now, the market is starting to remember.